IBR Responses During a Real-World System-Wide Disturbance: Synchro-Waveform Data Analysis, Pattern Classification, and Engineering Implications

Time-synchronized waveform measurements, also known as synchro-waveforms, provide unprecedented insight into the complex behavior of inverter-based resources (IBRs) during system-wide disturbances. In this paper, synchro-waveforms from 68 solar and wind IBRs are analyzed during a 500 kV fault. Through feature extraction and pattern classification, the IBR responses are categorized into several distinct classes, including tripping during or after the fault, ride-through with a transient increase or decrease in current, prolonged current increases, and oscillatory responses. The characteristics of these responses are analyzed, and methods are proposed to convert the results into actionable information for operating IBR-rich networks.