Large-Scale Wind Generation Development in the Mexican Power Grid: Impact Studies

Large-scale integration of renewable energy generation into the Mexican electric grid poses significant challenges and opportunities. Wind power development, particularly in the southeastern and northern portions of the Mexican interconnected system (MIS), may affect generation scheduling and impose additional uncertainty on available transfer capability and grid operations. Currently installed wind energy capacity in the MIS is around 2.5 GW, representing about 4% of total installed generation in the system. Large increases in wind generation capacity in the system are expected to have a significant impact on the dynamic stability and reliability of the system, especially as the amount of wind generation represents a significant portion of the local hydrogeneration and wind farms (WFs) grow in size and complexity. This chapter examines the impact of increased penetration of wind resources in the southeastern region of the Mexican grid on the dynamic performance of the system. Major technical challenges for power system operation are examined and rigorous analytical methods for analyzing and assessing the effect of large-scale wind and other resources on system dynamic behavior are proposed. Using recent planning and operation wind data, detailed studies on the effects of new wind generation on power system dynamic behavior are carried out to determine the potential operational impacts and mitigation measures. Integration issues related to large-scale wind generation development include power system frequency and voltage control, small-signal rotor angle stability and subsynchronous torsional interactions with static VAR compensators (SVCs) and series-compensated transmission lines.