Research Projects

The proposal aims to develop a resilient Grid Forming Inverter technology that can operate under significant grid disturbances under low inertial conditions. The utility grid, traditionally composed of synchronous generator-based power plants, is weak due to its high inertia and short circuit ratio (SCR). With the increasing penetration of renewables like solar PV and wind, the current grid following (GFL) inverters are not stable under low strength scenarios, making it difficult to react to sudden events and switch between islanding and grid-connected modes. To counter these issues, a terminal voltage control-based strategy called Grid Forming (GFM) control can be deployed. GFM-based controllers can operate stably under very low grid strength scenarios, making them suitable for grid disturbances and disruptions. The proposal also provides a cushion for microgrids to operate in islanded or grid-connected mode depending on their needs. Several GFM control strategies, such as droop-based control, virtual synchronous machine control, and virtual oscillator control (VOC), are commonly practiced. VOC is an excellent choice for GFM inverters due to its fast responsiveness, power sharing accuracy, and stable limit cycle. A crucial challenge for future grids is to be resilient to disturbances and cyber threats, operate in grid-connected and island modes, and handle sudden natural contingencies. India should contribute to this effort to create a healthy grid.