Fitness Check for Power Plants in Distribution Grids for Black Start and Regional Islands

ABSTRACT The fast restoration of the grid infrastructure after a grid failure is essential for a reliable energy supply. In this research, grid restoration by ramp‐up of a 400 MW combined cycle power plant, supported by four hydropower generators (100 MW) and three pumps (23 MVA) in a 110‐kV island grid in Upper Austria, is investigated. The objective is to test ramp‐up feasibility and to develop a simulation model which further is verified by the measurement results from the real‐world field tests. Findings include successful ramp‐up with different inertia scenarios, frequency dips up to 1.15 Hz, and challenges by connecting inverter‐based loads. The study underscores the importance of testing restoration strategies to ensure effective island operation during blackouts and to obtain results for simulation model verification. In addition, the influence of the usage of standard parameters on simulation results, thus insufficient knowledge of the controller parameters of the turbine controller, is analysed.