Dynamic Performance Modeling and Analysis of Power Grids With High Levels of Stochastic and Power Electronic Interfaced Resources

This article examines the emerging challenges in modeling and analyzing the electric power system due to the widespread growth of variable renewable energy (VRE), particularly in the form of distributed energy resources (DERs), which are displacing traditional large power plants. Many of these resources are connected to the system through power electronic interfaces, also known as inverter-based resources (IBRs), which are reshaping the system dynamics and lowering the grid strength and inertia. Understanding the dynamic behavior of the power system should be critical to addressing the potential stability concerns, refining the grid requirements, and developing effective and reliable measures among many alternatives. However, conventional methodologies for resource integration and network expansion studies, as well as application-specific electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies, need to be improved. This article thus presents recent academic and industrial efforts to advance the existing approaches, especially by incorporating the uncertainty in model parameters of DERs, variability of VRE, and EMT dynamics of IBRs for the grid planning and operations studies such as the impact of DERs on load modeling and system-wide dynamic performance. In addition, this article showcases recent developments to expand the study boundaries by synergizing the strengths of the industry-accepted approaches along with real system studies for Korea's electric power systems in particular.

Automated summary

This article discusses the challenges posed by the growth of variable renewable energy (VRE), especially distributed energy resources (DERs), in modeling and analyzing the electric power system. The connection of these resources through power electronic interfaces, known as inverter-based resources (IBRs), is changing the system dynamics and reducing grid strength and inertia. Improvement is needed in conventional methodologies for resource integration, network expansion studies, and application-specific electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies. The article presents recent efforts to advance existing approaches by considering the uncertainty in model parameters of DERs, variability of VRE, and EMT dynamics of IBRs for grid planning and operation studies, particularly in the context of Korea's electric power systems.