Improvement of transient stability margin in power systems with integrated wind generation using a STATCOM: an experimental verification

The impact of the wind generation on the power systems is no longer negligible if high penetration levels are going to be reached. Significant barriers to interconnection are being perceived already with the severe requirements of the new emerged grid codes. Depending on the generator technologies, different solutions are found to support behavior in case of voltage sags. Voltage source static VAr compensator such as the STATCOM can be used to regulate voltage as shunt compensator with directly connected asynchronous wind generators. This paper has analyzed the extent to which the transient stability margin can be increased by the use of a STATCOM, first by simulations and then with an experimental verification on a setup of 7.5 kW. Measurement results confirm that the STATCOM provides a clear stability margin increase and with adequate rating it becomes possible to ride through severe faults