Blake Clough Consulting is pleased to share insights from a recent paper on Automating Power Plant & Power Electronic Controller Tuning for Enhanced Grid Stability, by James Thornton, Graduate Consultant. This was presented at the 23rd Wind & Solar Integration Workshop in Helsinki (08–11 October 2024) and now published in the IET Digital Library. The paper tackles a key challenge in today’s energy sector: the need for efficient and transparent tuning of power plant controllers as renewable integration increases.

Automating Power Plant & Power Electronic Controller Tuning for Enhanced Grid Stability

The paper presents the development of an automated model for tuning power plants and power electronic controllers in electrical power systems, addressing challenges posed by the integration of renewable energy sources and the resulting reduction in grid inertia. The traditional manual tuning process, complicated by proprietary black-box models from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), is time-consuming and requires high expertise and, as of September 2022, it is no longer allowed by the National Grid. This work proposes a generic open-source model that emulates OEM systems, facilitating grid code compliance through automated tuning. The model integrates DIgSILENT PowerFactory simulations with Python scripting and a Windows Forms interface, optimising control parameters such as proportional gain (Kp) and integral gain (Ki) using machine learning algorithms. The methodology includes a detailed literature review, robust research design, and validation of a model power system. Results demonstrate significant improvements in tuning efficiency and system response, offering a scalable solution for various power plants, enhancing the integration of renewable energy, and promoting grid stability.

Key findings include:

• A generic open‐source model that replicates OEM black-box control systems—addressing the growing demand for grid code compliance black-box control system models are no longer accepted by NESO.
• The development of an automated approach that integrates PowerFactory simulations with Python and machine learning algorithms (Grid Search and Genetic Algorithms) to optimise control parameters (Kp and Ki), significantly reducing tuning time and improving grid stability.
• Demonstrated improvements in system response, with the model providing a scalable solution for both solar and wind power plants, ensuring that control systems can adapt to fluctuating grid conditions.

This work underlines the potential of advanced automation in enhancing grid performance and supports the ongoing evolution of power systems as they embrace renewable energy sources.

It should be noted that James worked part time with Blake Clough last year whilst in the final year of his BEng with University of Huddersfield and is now working part time whilst studying for his full time MSc with University of Manchester which is quite a super-human schedule!  James is a key member of the Blake Clough Consulting team, delivering high quality projects and developing new areas of the business.

We are also grateful to support from Professor Nigel Schofield, University of Huddersfield, who is a friend of Blake Clough and has encouraged a number of University of Huddersfield students to join us.