Grid-code compliance assessment of a utility-scale wind farm under real operating conditions: analysis of power quality, grid support, and reactive power limitations

Grid-code compliance has become a critical requirement for the reliable integration of large-scale wind farms into modern transmission networks. This study presents a comprehensive grid-code compliance assessment of a fully operational 120 MW wind farm connected to the Moroccan high-voltage transmission network. Unlike many previous studies that focus on isolated compliance requirements, the proposed assessment simultaneously evaluates power-quality performance, frequency tolerance, Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) capability, reactive power support, and short-circuit behavior under representative operating conditions. The analysis is based on detailed power-system modeling, manufacturer-certified technical data, and applicable grid-code requirements. The results demonstrate full compliance with the prescribed limits for flicker emission, harmonic distortion, voltage unbalance, frequency tolerance, and LVRT performance. However, the assessment identifies a reactive power compensation limitation at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), particularly under low active-power operating conditions, where the wind farm is unable to fully satisfy the reactive power absorption requirements specified by the grid code. The analysis further indicates that this limitation is mainly associated with the existing reactive compensation configuration and network characteristics. These findings provide practical insights into the behavior of large-scale wind farms connected to transmission networks and highlight the importance of integrated compliance assessments for identifying technical limitations that may affect long-term grid integration and operational flexibility.