Impact of Solar PV Penetration Level and Placement on Frequency, Voltage, and Transient Stability of the IEEE 9-Bus System

Timbang Pangaribuan; Jonner Manihuruk; Ronald Naibaho

doi:10.59261/jequi.v8i4.426

Authors

Timbang Pangaribuan Universitas HKBP Nommensen
Jonner Manihuruk Universitas HKBP Nommensen
Ronald Naibaho Universitas HKBP Nommensen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59261/jequi.v8i4.426

Keywords:

Solar PV Penetration, Grid Stability, IEEE 9-Bus System, Critical Clearing Time, Rate of Change of Frequency, Dynamic Time Warping

Abstract

Background: The accelerating displacement of synchronous generation by inverter-based solar photovoltaic (PV) plants is reducing the rotational inertia and dynamic reserves that have traditionally underpinned power system stability. Objectives: This study aims to quantify these coupled effects on the WSCC IEEE 9-bus test system. Methods: A reproducible, deterministic electromechanical (root mean square, RMS) simulation environment was developed in Python, combining Newton–Raphson power flow, a system frequency response model with inertia scaled to PV penetration, and classical multimachine transient stability integration. PV was modeled as a zero-inertia, grid-following source, and a three-phase fault at bus 7 was cleared by tripping line 5–7. Six penetration scenarios (0–50%) and four placement scenarios at 30% penetration were analyzed. Results: As PV penetration rose from 0% to 50%, the post-fault rate of change of frequency doubled (from 0.227 to 0.454 Hz/s), and the critical clearing time decreased by 29.9% (from 162 to 113.5 ms), whereas the frequency nadir declined only marginally. Load-bus overvoltage and system losses were governed primarily by PV placement rather than by penetration alone. The novelty of this study lies in jointly mapping PV penetration and placement to inertia, voltage, and rotor-angle stability indices using a single open benchmark.

Conclusion: The results indicate that transient stability and frequency-gradient security, rather than steady-state voltage, define the binding constraints on PV hosting capacity under the modeled conditions, and that optimal siting can partially offset penetration-driven degradation.

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