Frequency Control in Power Systems with Large Share of Wind Energy

Fast frequency response from wind turbines and plants has been playing an increasingly important role in our modern power system, which has a large share of wind energy integration. Frequency control from grid-following wind turbines and plants has been extensively investigated in the literature, whereas grid-forming frequency control methods have aroused people’s attention in recent years, with relatively little comparison available.

This paper provides such a comparison, illustrating the differences between the two methods of providing frequency support in a power system. The comparison shows the superiority of grid-forming frequency control methods over grid-following ones, and gives a glance into power system frequency stability in the transition from grid-following to grid-forming frequency support supplied by wind power.

The results are elaborated in a benchmark WSCC 9-bus system, which features detailed electromagnetic transient modeling of the components from a single converter, a wind turbine, and a wind plant to the whole power system.