Aspects of Relevance of Hybrid Power Plants in Control and Stability of Weak Grids

This paper reviews the possible contributions of Hybrid Power Plants (HPPs) to support weak grids while maintaining the desired system stability. Moving towards a converter-dominant power system with less inherent inertia and distant connections to the nearest synchronous generator, frequency and voltage controls are becoming more critical to ensure the stability of the weak grid. In this regard, state-of-the-art literature is reviewed for frequency and voltage controllers in single-technology power plants, like wind and solar power plants. The contribution of this paper lies in providing a clear overview of available literature in terms of frequency and voltage control stages, regardless of the utilized control method. On the other hand, focus has been put on the increased utilization of HPPs to provide more flexibility, increased availability, and reduced variability through the combination of various sources, i.e., wind, solar, and storage. Furthermore, investigating the specific capabilities and challenges of HPPs, this review shows that very little literature has been conducted on voltage control using HPPs. Finally, the aspect of relevance of HPPs is discussed in the control and stability of modern power systems.