Power system stability enhancement of the future GB transmission system using HVDC link

As a consequence of the fast development of renewable energy sources in the UK, higher transmission capacity will be required to integrate potentially large volumes of wind generation in the future. Also, over the next decade, maintaining the transmission system security and stability will become more difficult. A major increase in the application of HVDC transmission technology and the deployment of series compensation within the existing AC transmission system is expected to provide the required transfer capability in the future. However, there is also a need to employ smarter ways of operating these power flow control devices. Firstly, this paper investigates the capability of the HVDC link in improving the inter-area power oscillation damping. Two approaches in the design of power oscillation damping controller are demonstrated. Secondly, the paper presents the application of the HVDC links set-point adoption for the stability enhancement through a novel non-parametric control system design approach using the sample regulator control design method. This method is mainly attractive for applications in large integrated power systems since the controller design only requires knowledge of the nonparametric model of the power system i.e. the open-loop step response, which is easily obtainable compared to development of parametric model of the power system.