Citation:
Zrum J, Sumanik S, Ross M. C6-309 An automated grid impact study tool for integrating a high penetration of intermittent resources on diesel-based isolated systems, in Cigre Session 47. Paris, France: Cigre ; 2018.
Date Presented: August
Abstract:
There are 86 remote communities located in the northern Canadian territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut; the majority of which rely solely on diesel for power generation. While there is growing interest in reducing fossil fuel dependency and adding renewable resources into the generation mix, the integration of a high penetration of intermittent resources, such as solar photovoltaics or wind generation, into a diesel-based remote power system poses many technical challenges. It is necessary to verify the regulatory requirements for adequacy and security that must be met by the utilities.
A MATLAB based tool was developed to ascertain power system sensitivities and limiting factors in achieving a high penetration of renewable or intermittent resources. The objective of the tool is to be sufficiently generic to replicate the automation of all the technical power system studies that need to be performed, so as to be capable of performing the grid impact studies that are of most concern to diesel-based remote power systems. With the requisite system information, the tool can be applied to study a variety of remote communities throughout the Canadian territories.
Old Crow, Yukon, was used as an initial test for the tool developed in this study. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, of which a majority of the community belong to, are intent on implementing an Old Crow solar project. The studies performed in Old Crow found several important results. Based on system stability and protection, it was found that the existing system could host a 260kW solar plant under normal operation and with minimal impact to the protection system. However, the solar plant capacity is limited by the necessity of curtailing the resource to maintain power and energy balance in the system.Last updated on 01/23/2019