Utility Experience with Inverter Based Resource Impacts on Transmission Protection

Saeed, Ajmal [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)]; Jensen, Mike [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)]; Zamani, Amin [Quanta Technology, Raleigh, NC (United States)]; Reno, Matthew [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)]; Bidram, Ali [Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)]; Raffield, Taylor I. [Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC (United States)]

doi:10.2172/2572378

DOE OSTI · 2572378

Utility Experience with Inverter Based Resource Impacts on Transmission Protection

Saeed, Ajmal [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)]·Jensen, Mike [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)]·Zamani, Amin [Quanta Technology, Raleigh, NC (United States)]·Reno, Matthew [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)]·Bidram, Ali [Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)]·Raffield, Taylor I. [Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC (United States)]

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Abstract

High penetration of inverter-based resources (IBR) can adversely affect the transmission protection schemes in the area. With the proliferation of IBRs, utilities are finding out that conventional protection schemes are not adequately equipped to protect the electric systems because the existing system has been designed based on the fault current response of conventional rotating-machine-based generators. In several cases, the available literature does not provide any clear solution for the issues when the protection scheme does not operate properly near IBRs. This report identifies various protection challenges due to IBRs that industry is facing, from the utility perspective. It includes a broad review of all challenges that system protection has experienced so far with high penetration of IBRs. Key issues have been identified based on a survey of different utility protection engineers. Finally, fault event recordings are shown to demonstrate some actual cases of mis-operations of relays near IBRs.

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Saeed, Ajmal [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)], Jensen, Mike [Pacific Gas and Electric, Oakland, CA (United States)], Zamani, Amin [Quanta Technology, Raleigh, NC (United States)], Reno, Matthew [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)], Bidram, Ali [Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)], Raffield, Taylor I. [Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC (United States)]. 2025-02-01. Utility Experience with Inverter Based Resource Impacts on Transmission Protection. https://doi.org/10.2172/2572378

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