Inertia Distribution and Location of Damping Controllers in the Chilean Interconnected System

This article analyzes the inertia distribution in the north area of the Chilean Electric System (CES) and discusses how it can be used to address the current stability challenges of the system due to the sustained adoption of renewable sources such as wind farms and solar plants. Two system operational cases are used to obtain metrics that resemble the system inertia distribution. These metrics are tested by deploying damping controllers in those buses identified as with low inertia, as this can have the best enhancement in the system dynamic performance. The results show that the inertia distribution varies depending on the scenario, highlighting the importance of defining multiple indices for a comprehensive view of the system. In conclusion, the need to evaluate and improve the inertia distribution to ensure the stability of the CES with greater penetration of renewable energy is emphasized. Additionally, the effectiveness of the indices in identifying vulnerable and robust areas is validated, providing a crucial tool for future studies and improvements to the grid.