Research Projects

The growing integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, along with energy storage systems and electric vehicles (collectively referred to as Inverter-Based Resources or IBRs), has introduced significant challenges for the protection of Distribution Systems (DS). As synchronous generators are retired due to declining costs and need for decarbonization, IBR integration shifts the focus toward maintaining fault current capability and reliable protection. The inherent nature of inverters to limit fault current, combined with complex IBR dynamics at DS such as low inertia, bidirectional energy exchange, and interactions with grid dynamics, requires a protection design that departs from conventional philosophies. Protective schemes, therefore, must be adapted for high IBR penetration, especially when IBRs support grid-forming and have broad ride-through requirements. This project thus aims at carrying out research on the protective schemes to balance ride-through and distribution compatibility requirements, coordination protection planning, and impact of green hydrogen solution on the protection aspect of IBR-rich DS. The first and the foremost step of project, ASPIRE, is to develop a protection scheme that ensures safe IBR ride-through during transient events. Traditional line protection may mal-operate during internal/external faults, given the distinct behavior of IBRs. Additionally, islanding detection is a critical feature, as required by IEEE Std. 929-2000 and IEEE Std. 1547-2003, which mandates that IBRs disconnect from the grid within 2 seconds of island formation. On the contrary, as IBR capacity increases, compliance with grid codes for ride-through capabilities becomes increasingly critical. This challenge is compounded by the fact that few inverters are equipped to manage the wide ride-through curves needed for grid-forming mode. Hence, there is dire need of unified protection scheme that satisfies integrated functionalities of IBRs at distribution side. Another important protection aspect of the IBR integrated DS is coordination between traditional and modern relays. The feasibility of using a single set of settings in conventional relays for grid-connected and Islanded Mode (IM) is often hindered in the presence of IBRs due to relatively low short-circuit levels in IM. Coordination is further complicated by the unpredictable nature of solar and wind, necessitating extensive studies to manage high IBR penetration. The utilities have identified that green hydrogen generation stabilizes the system, ensuring reliable power and reducing false trips and under-voltage issues. However, the protection system designs involving green hydrogen are still underdeveloped, and hence, the project will focus on analysing its impact on DS protection schemes. To this end, the project aims to bridge protection design gaps to support the further proliferation of IBRs and develop expertise through a dedicated lab setup.