Model-based control of a VSC-based power generator with synthetic inertia provision in an isolated micro-grid

Distributed energy resources such as solar photovoltaic, wind and energy storage systems are increasingly beingutilised within isolated and grid-connected microgrids. Their integration has prompted the move towards more advancedcoordinated control for flexible, efficient and secure operation of microgrid-based power systems. This study presents a newpower control method based on a canonical inverse model and implied synthetic inertia (SI), which is implemented on a voltagesource converter-based power generator (VSC-PG) for frequency response support. The control method augments a traditionalpower controller whilst the SI technique is blended with a new switching mechanism which enhances the performance of theVSC-PG when it is utilised with SI provision capability. The switching mechanism acts only when necessary, withoutcontradicting the main frequency regulating sources. For assessment, the above method and SI technique have been designedand modelled for a 630 kVA VSC-PG with DC-link battery bank. The VSC-PG was connected within an isolated/remotemicrogrid formed by an 11 kV feeder, 1 MVA diesel generator and variable load. The performances of the proposed powercontroller and SI provider have been tested and analysed using detailed Matlab/Simulink simulations and found to comparefavourably with methods published in the literature.