Garissa REA Solar PV Plant Connection to the Grid

March 2018
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The commissioning of a 50MW solar PV plant being constructed by the Rural Electrification
Authority (REA) is expected by the end of the year 2018. The solar PV plant is in Garissa County
in North Eastern Kenya. It is located next to the KETRACO Garissa 132/11kV substation which
is supplied by the Kindaruma-Mwingi-Garissa 234km 132kV single circuit line.

The plant’s proposed point of common coupling to the national grid is the 132kV bus at the Garissa
Substation which is about 1km from the solar PV farm.

1.1. STUDY OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to assess the adequacy of the grid to evacuate the power from the
proposed 50MW solar farm without any adverse impact.

2.0 STUDY ASSUMPTIONS

• The system was simulated with a peak load of 1270MW which is the current afternoon load.
• The proposed power plant generates at full capacity of 50MW;
• The Plant’s operating power factor range is +/-0.95 as specified in the National Grid Code.
The plant developer has indicated that the operating power factor range for the plant is +/-0.9;
• The solar farm was modelled as a type 4 wind farm-variable speed with full-scale converter as
recommended in PSS/E;
• The Kindaruma-Mwingi-Garissa single circuit 132kV line is built using the ACSR Lynx
conductor with a thermal rating of approximately 97MVA;
• The 50 X 1250kVA 0.415/33kV transformers in the collector system are lumped together and
represented by one 62.5MVA 0.415/33kV transformer;
• The 1km 132kV line linking the wind farm and the Garissa 132/11kV substation is built using
the ACSR Lynx conductor;
• Kindaruma Power plant’s three units are dispatched at full capacity in order to observe loadings
on the Kindaruma-Kamburu line and Kindaruma-Mangu-Juja line;
• The Mwingi-Kitui-Wote-Sultan Hamud 132kV line is not commissioned;
• The current loads in Garissa and Mwingi substations are estimated to be 5MW per substation
at peak. During the day when the PV plant is expected to be operational the load is expected
to be about 3MW in Mwing substation also 3MW at Garissa substation.
3.0 GRID CODE REQUIREMENTS

The requirements specified in the Kenya National Transmission Grid Code (KNTGC) forms the
basis for the grid impact assessment studies. The relevant chapters of the code are Chapter 6 –
Connections and Chapter 7 – Renewable Power Plant. These chapters contain requirements
specific to both the Eastern Africa Power Pool and East African Community Interconnection Code
(EAPP IC) and the KNTGC. Where there are differences in requirements, the KNTGC specifies
that the more stringent requirement shall hold. Chapter 6 – Connections, specifies the minimum
technical, design and operational criteria of plant and apparatus that must be complied with by the
Transmission System Operator (TSO) and Users at the connection Point. The Transmission System
Performance Characteristics specified by the Code are as follows:

3.1 Frequency
The frequency limits under normal and contingency conditions are shown in Table 1. Large
generating units can cause a dip in system frequency on tripping due to the inability of the
remaining generators on the system to pick up the shortfall. In extreme circumstances, this can
cause a complete system collapse.

Table 1: Frequency Limits

3.2 Voltage
The impact of the plant on steady-state voltage levels and in terms of voltage fluctuation or flicker
is supposed to be assessed. Steady-state voltage limits from the KNTGC are shown below.

Table 1: Steady- State Voltage Limits

For assessment of voltage fluctuation or flicker, the KNTGC quotes IEC 61000-3-7 (1996) and
includes the following general requirements:

Voltage fluctuation at a Connection Point shall not exceed:

➢ +/-1% of the steady-state voltage level when these occur repetitively or

➢ +/-3% of the steady-state voltage level when these occur infrequently

3.3 Harmonics
The limits for harmonic distortion are as follows.

Table 3: Harmonic Limits

3.4 Technical Standards for Plant and Apparatus

All Plant and Apparatus connected to or proposed for connection to the EAPP Interconnected
Transmission System shall meet certain minimum technical standards as detailed below, in the
following order of preference:

a) Relevant current international and African Standards, such as IEC, ISO, EN;
b) Relevant current national standards.

Furthermore, Plant and Apparatus shall be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with
the quality assurance ISO 9000 family or equivalent. The KNTGC also specifies requirements for
electrical protection and telecommunication which are to be adhered to in the detailed design.

3.5 Technical Requirements for Generating Units

Chapter 7 of the code specifies particular requirements for renewable power plants including:
➢ Fault ride-through
➢ Power system frequency range
➢ Active power control
➢ Frequency response and
➢ Ramp rates

3.6 Grid Connection Guideline

The grid connection guidelines for Feed-in-Tariffs projects specifies the voltage levels at which
plants of different capacities are supposed to be connected to the national grid as shown below.
Table 0: Generation Capacity and Voltage Limits
From the table above, it can be seen that a plant of 50MW can only be connected to the grid at
voltage levels above 33kV.
4.0 METHODOLOGY

Based on the above assumptions, the power system was simulated using the PSSE software. The
impact of connecting the solar PV to the system was then monitored by observing the;

• The change in relevant bus voltages;

• The change in line loadings;
• Change in short-circuit levels and;
• The Fault-Ride Through Capability of the solar farm as recommended in the national Grid
Code.

The following criteria on elements loadings was used to assess the system.

4.1 Equipment loading

• Under normal conditions and at steady state following single contingencies all transmission
equipment should not exceed 100% of the continuous rating.
• During contingency conditions loading will be allowed to increase to 120%, which is a
threshold justified by the fact that the equipment can stand this level for a short to allow the
operator to apply remedial actions for bringing the system back to a normal situation.

5.0 RESULTS

5.1 Existing System

The existing system was simulated as shown in the figure below.

Figure 1: Existing System Single Line Diagram

 315001
KKINDARUMA11 300001
KKINDARUMH1
9.8 9.9
16.6 18.5 23.9

1
1.05
2
7.2R
9.8 9.9
319009
16.6 18.5 18.9 3

1
1.05
KGARISSA11
315003 5.7R 339020 319007
KKAMBURU11 KMWINGI31 KMWINGI11
35.0 35.0 12.0
1 3.0 3.0 3.0
58.9 53.5 3.6R

1
0.9
1
1.5 1.5 1.5 339012

1
26.3 26.5

0.9833
KGARISSA31
4.7 5.3 1.0
1.0
11.5
6.1 33.3 6.1 3.0 3.0 3.0

1
1
8.1 6.8 1.6 1.5 1.5
1.0
133.3 1.0
11.2
3.1 3.0
319012 8.3 1.6
KMANGU11 399022
319014 GARISSAPV11
339021
GARISA PV132
GARISSAPV33

21.4 22.0

0.9

0.9
1

1
8.6 12.3

1.2
1.0 13.7
134.1 1.1
1.0 37.0
1.0
133.3
133.6
1.0
1.0
134.1
Bus - Voltage (kV/pu) 135.4
Branch - MW/Mvar
Equipment - MW/Mvar
100.0%Rate A
1.050OV 0.950UV 319011
kV: <=11.000 <=33.000 <=66.000 <=132.000 <=220.000 <=400.000 <=500.000 >500.000 KKITUI11

1.0
132.0

5.1.1 Bus Voltages

The bus voltages at the Garissa, Mwingi and Kindaruma were observed and recorded in the table
below before the proposed solar farm was added to the grid.

Table 5: Bus Voltages-Before the plant is connected

Bus Name Nominal Voltage (kV) Actual Voltage (pu)

Garissa 132 1.0258

Mwingi 132 1.0157

Kindaruma 132 1.0122

It was noted that the voltages were within acceptable levels of 0.95pu-1.05pu.
5.1.2 Line Loadings

The loading of the following lines was also recorded before the commissioning of the 50MW
wind farm.

Table 6: Line Loadings-Before the plant is connected

Line Name Loading (%)

Garissa-Mwingi 9

Mwingi-Kindaruma 10

Kindaruma-Kamburu 33

Kindaruma-Mangu 34

No line was loaded above its thermal rating.

5.1.3 Short-Circuit Levels-Before the plant is connected

Table 7: System Fault Levels-Before the plant is connected

Rated Short 3 Phase fault levels

Circuit
Bus Voltage Current Maximum Minimum
(kV) (kA) S (MVA) I (kA) S (MVA) I (kA)
Garissa 132 31.5 162.00 0.7086 147.86 0.6467
Mwingi 33 31.5 743.07 3.2501 688.72 3.0124
Kindaruma 33 31.5 1605.43 7.0219 1523.44 6.6633

The short circuit currents are way below the rated short-circuit currents of the existing circuit
breakers at the 132kV level.

5.2 System with the 50MW Solar Farm

The analysis of the bus voltages, line loadings and fault levels were repeated after the plant was
connected to the system and the results recorded as follows. It was assumed that the PV plant
was operating at maximum active power at unity power factor.
Table 8: Bus Voltages-Before and After Connection of the 50MW Solar PV Farm

Actual Voltage (pu) - Actual Voltage

Variation
Before (pu)-After
Bus Rated Voltage(kV) (%)
Garissa 132 1.0258 1.0849 5.8
Mwingi 132 1.0157 1.0186 0.3
Kindaruma 132 1.0122 1.0110 -0.1

It is observed that whereas the voltage at the Garissa 132kV bus where the plant is connected to
the grid significantly rises, the rise on the Mwingi bus voltage is minimal and the Kindaruma bus
voltage slightly dips. This is because the lines were then more loaded.

Table 9: Lines Loadings-Before and after connection of the 50MW PV Plant

Line Name Loading (%) -Before Loading (%) -After Variation (%)
Garissa-Mwingi 9 45 36
Mwingi-Kindaruma 10 41 31
Kindaruma-Kamburu 33 84 51
Kindaruma-Mangu 34 41 7

It is observed that the monitored line loadings go up after connection of the solar PV plant to the
grid, but no line is overloaded above its thermal rating.

Table 10: System Fault Levels-After the plant is connected

Rated Short 3 Phase fault levels

Circuit
Bus Voltage Current Maximum Minimum
(kV) (kA) S (MVA) I (kA) S (MVA) I (kA)
Garissa 132 31.5 205.34 0.8981 191.29 0.8367
Mwingi 33 31.5 777.55 3.4009 722.70 3.1610
Kindaruma 33 31.5 1638.88 7.1683 1556.34 6.8072

It is observed that the fault levels are slightly elevated after connection of the 50MW PV plant
but are still far below the rated 132kV circuit breakers breaking currents.
 5.3 Fault-Ride Through Capability

Fault ride-through refers to the ability of a generating plant to remain connected during a system
voltage disturbance. This a requirement for power plants connected to the grid in the revised
National Grid Code.

This was tested by;

• Running a normal system for 1 second;

• Introduce a fault that last for 100 milliseconds at the Garissa PV Plant 132kV bus (Delivery
Point);
• Clear the fault and then run the system for another 8.9 seconds (to 10 seconds).

The voltage at the 132kV bus and the plant’s active and reactive power outputs were then
monitored. The results were plotted as shown in the figures below below.

Figure 2: Voltage at the faulted bus

Voltage (pu)

1.1

0.9

0.8

0.7
Voltage (pu)

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

-0.1

-0.2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (seconds)

b
c
d
e
f
g 1 - VOLTAGE : FRT-1
Figure 3: Plant’s Active and Reactive Power Outputs of the Plant

Active and Reactive Power Ouputs of the Plant

50

40

30

20

10

-10
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (seconds)

b
c
d
e
f
g 100*A : FRT-1 g
b
c
d
e
f 100*A : FRT-1

The results show that the proposed solar PV plant remains connected to the system during and
after the fault is cleared. It therefore complies with the National Grid Code requirement.
6.0 RESULTS ANALYSIS

6.1 Short Circuit Fault Levels

Connection of a plant to the power system can compromise the supply quality, particularly causing
large voltage fluctuations beyond the acceptable +/- 3% at the point of connection. The amount of
generation that can be connected at a particular point in the power system is therefore limited,
depending on the power network relative system strength (system impedance) at the point of
connection. High system impedance (weak system) results to large voltage fluctuations with
changes in generation output while low system impedance (strong system) results to lower voltage
fluctuations and therefore higher capacity to absorb power.

Power system strength with respect to generation is expressed in terms of system short circuit ratio,
which is defined as the ratio of the system short circuit power at the point of connection to the
Maximum power generation from the plant
𝑆
i.e. 𝑆𝐶𝑅 = ( 𝑠𝑐⁄𝑃)
Where, SCR is the short circuit ratio;

𝑆𝑠𝑐 is the power system short circuit level at the point of connection;

and P is the installed power capacity.

The power system is determined to be strong with respect to installed capacity if the short circuit
ratio is above 20 and weak if it is below 10.

The fault level study was conducted in PSS/E software using the IEC standard 60909 which
determines the minimum and maximum three-phase fault levels at the network point of interest.

SCR was calculated at the proposed connection point to the grid and tabulated as shown below.

Table 11: Short Circuit Ratios at the Relevant Buses

Plant Short Circuit Fault Level SCR

Bus Power maximum minimum
Maximum Minimum
(MW) (MVA) (MVA)
Garissa S/S 132kV Bus 50 205.34 191.29 4.1 3.8
Mwingi S/S 132kV Bus 50 777.55 722.70 15.6 14.45
Kindaruma S/S 132kV Bus 50 1638.88 1556.34 32.78 31.13

The capacity of the network to absorb power from the Garissa solar PV plant at the proposed point
of connection can be assessed through calculation of short circuit fault levels at this point. The
calculated short circuit fault level also gives an indication of whether the existing network breaking
capacity will be adequate for the expected increase in system short circuit fault levels upon
integration of additional generation capacity.

Based on the above criteria, it is shown that the proposed point of connection (Garissa 132kV bus)
with SCR below 5 is a relatively weak point of connection of the plant to the system. Mwingi and
Kindaruma buses are relatively stronger points of the grid. At weak points, the voltage variations
due to changes in power production are higher.

Short circuit fault analysis results indicate that network short circuit fault levels will be slightly
elevated on commissioning of the plant in all the relevant buses. They will however not exceed or
approach the ratings of currently installed equipment at the relevant 132kV buses.

5.2 Voltage Variation

The impact of the plant on steady-state voltage levels and in terms of voltage fluctuation or flicker
was assessed. Steady-state voltage limits from the Kenya National Transmission Grid Code
(KNTGC) are shown below.

Table 12: Steady- State Voltage Limits

For assessment of voltage fluctuation or flicker, the KNTGC quotes IEC 61000-3-7 (1996) and
includes the following general requirements:

Voltage fluctuation at a Connection Point shall not exceed:

➢ +/-1% of the steady-state voltage level when these occur repetitively or

➢ +/-3% of the steady-state voltage level when these occur infrequently

The PV plant switching falls under the second category as switching occurs only rarely. Therefore,
the limiting value for voltage change calculation is assumed to be ± 3% of the steady state voltage.

Voltage variation is a function of both SCR and X/R ratio and is estimated from the following
expression:

Voltage variation,

𝜕𝑉 = (𝑃⁄𝑆 ) (cos(𝛽 − 𝛼))

𝑠𝑐
 𝜕𝑉 = (1⁄𝑆𝐶𝑅)(cos(𝛽 − 𝛼))

Where P and 𝑆𝑠𝑐 are as defined above, β is the angle of network short circuit impedance and α is
the phase angle of the plant output current.

The maximum voltage variation is expected at minimum system short circuit fault level.

The expected voltage was calculated under three scenarios; plant power factor of 0.95 (plant
absorbing reactive power from the system), unity power factor (plant neither absorbing or injecting
reactive power from/into the system), plant power factor of -0.95 (plant injecting reactive power
into the system).

Table 13: Voltage variations at Connection Point -plant power factor of +0.95

Bus SCR α β 𝜕𝑉(%)

Garissa S/S 132kV Bus 3.8 18.20 70.91 15.9

Table 14: Voltage variations at Connection Point -plant power factor of 1 (unity)

Bus SCR α β 𝜕𝑉(%)

Garissa S/S 132kV Bus 3.8 0 70.91 8.6

Table 15: Voltage variations at Connection Point -plant factor of -0.95

Bus SCR α β 𝜕𝑉(%)

Garissa S/S 132kV Bus 3.8 161.81 70.91 -0.4

When the plant is operated at a power factor of +0.95 (absorbing reactive power) and at unity
power factor unacceptably high voltage variations are expected in the system as shown in the tables
above. The voltage change is significantly higher than the limit set by KNTGC of 3%. The voltage
change is minimal when the PV is operated at a lagging power factor (injecting reactive power
into the system).

5.3 Flicker Severity

Flicker severity is dependent on the source of power, generator characteristics and voltage
variation. Short term flicker can be estimated from the expression below as given by Andreas
Spring et. al., Effects of Flicker in a Distribution Grid.

𝜕𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑃𝑠𝑡 = 0.365 × 𝑅 × 𝐹 × 𝑟 0.31 × ( 𝑉
)
 𝜕𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥
Where R is the frequency factor, F is the form factor; r is the repetition rate per minute and ( 𝑉
)
% is the maximum voltage variation in percentage. Typical values for R and F are 0.2 and 1.4
respectively.

Short term flicker planning limits are; Pst< 0.9 for medium voltage systems and Pst< 0.8 for high
voltage systems.

Assuming repetition rate of 10 per minute and the determined voltage variation above, applying
the expression above gives short term flickers as in the below.

Table 16: Short-term Flicker at the Garissa 132kV Bus

Power Factor R F r 𝜕𝑉(%) Flicker

+0.95 0.2 1.4 10 15.9 3.3
1 0.2 1.4 10 8.6 1.8
-0.95 0.2 1.4 10 0.4 0.08

Unacceptably high flicker is expected when the PV plant is operated at a leading power factor
(+0.95) and at unity power factor as shown table 16 above. This is significantly higher than the
short-term flicker planning threshold of 0.8 for high voltage systems.

6.0 CONCLUSION

The proposed connection point of the plant to the grid is a relatively weaker point.

To minimize voltage variations at the connection point, it is recommended that suitably sized
reactive power compensation equipment be installed by the plant developer to limit the voltage
variation to +/-3% of the steady state voltage.

It is also recommended that to avoid voltage variation, the plant developer will be advised to
normally operate the plant at lagging power factor.

KETRACO has proposed a single circuit 240km long, 220kV line between Garissa and Garsen
substations with a 220/132kV substation in Garissa. Construction of this line is expected to
strengthen the grid in Garissa. The line was modelled as shown in Appendix 2 below.
Recalculation of the fault levels at the Garissa 132kV bus was carried out and higher value of
375MVA was obtained. This gives a short circuit ratio of 7.5 and voltage variations of 8.1%, 4.4%
and -0.2% at +0.95, 1 and -0.95 power factors respectively in regard to connection of the PV plant
to the grid.
APPENDIX 1: GARISSA SUB-SYSTEM AFTER CONNECTION OF THE 50MW PV
FARM

315001
KKINDARUMA11 300001
KKINDARUMH1
9.8 9.9
16.8 18.8 23.9

1
1.05
2
6.5R
9.8 9.9
319009
16.8 18.8 18.9 3

1
1.05
KGARISSA11
315003 5.1R 339020 319007
KKAMBURU11 KMWINGI31 KMWINGI11
35.0 35.0 12.0
1 3.0 3.0 3.0
1
57.7 0.9 52.5 3.3R 1
1.5 1.5 1.5 339012

1
66.0 66.9

1.0167
KGARISSA31
18.2 16.9 1.0
11.5 1.0
39.0 33.4 39.5 3.0 3.0 3.0

1
1
6.7 7.0 1.6 1.5 1.5
1.0
132.8 1.0
11.5
42.5 46.6
319012 5.5 6.8
KMANGU11 399022
319014 GARISSAPV11
GARISA PV132 339021
GARISSAPV33

25.8 26.7 50.0

0.9

0.9
49.6 49.6 49.6 49.8 49.8 50.0 1

1
10.9 13.9 0.0H
5.2 5.2 5.2 1.4 1.4 0.0

1.3
1.0 14.8
133.9 1.2
1.1 39.8
1.0 143.3
133.4
1.0
134.5 1.1
Bus - Voltage (kV/pu) 143.2
Branch - MW/Mvar
Equipment - MW/Mvar
100.0%Rate A
1.050OV 0.950UV
319011
kV: <=11.000 <=33.000<=66.000 <=132.000<=220.000<=400.000<=500.000>500.000
KKITUI11

1.0
132.0
APPENDIX 2: GARISSA SUB-SYSTEM AFTER CONNECTION OF THE 50MW PV
FARM AND THE 220kV LINE FROM GARSEN
315001 319009
KKINDARUMA11 300001 KGARISSA11
KKINDARUMH1
9.8 9.9

1.05
16.8 18.7 23.9

1
2
6.6R
9.8 9.9
18.7 18.9 3

1.05
16.8

1
315003 5.2R 339020 319007
KKAMBURU11 KMWINGI31 KMWINGI11
35.0 35.0 12.0
1 5.0 5.0 5.0

1
0.9
57.9 52.7 3.3R 1
2.4 2.4 2.5 339012

1
47.2 47.7
KGARISSA31
12.4 12.2 1.0
11.5 1.0
15.3 33.1 15.3 5.0 5.0 5.0

1
1
0.4 1.6 2.8 2.4 2.4
1.0
133.0 1.0
11.0
20.4 21.3
319012 0.9 7.2
KMANGU11 399022
319014 GARISSAPV11
GARISA PV132 339021
GARISSAPV33

0.9

0.9
21.5 22.2 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.8 49.8 50.0 50.0 1

1
8.8 12.5 16.4L
23.2 23.1 23.1 18.3 18.3 16.4

1.2
1.0 329002
1.1 13.7
134.0 KGARISSA 220
1.0 37.2
1.0 138.0
133.5
1.0 324005
134.0 KGARSEN21
1 * 23.1
20.3
23.2
23.1 22.9
181.8 1
319011 20.3 13.4
1.1

* 0.0
KKITUI11 12.5 1.1

0.0
237.2
0.0
1
1.0 11.5
138.0 399023
KGARISSATERT 1.1
236.2

1.0
132.0