Impact of Changes in the Number and Capacity of Wind Power Plant on Short Circuit Current Level in Distribution Network

A concern that power generation manufacturers feel when adding a new power plant to their power grid is the increased level of short-circuit fault current. Short circuits in the power grid are common and can be caused by internal and external factors. It is very important to consider the amount and power capacity of the additional new power plant. The goal of this study is to offer an analysis of changes in the amount and power capacity of new power plants entering the power grid to changes in the level of the fault currents, especially in distribution networks. The difference with other papers, this study uses a type of renewable energy power generation such as the DFIG Wind Power Plant (WPP). In the method, several scenarios are made. Scenario 1 employs 10 WPP units, each with a power capacity of 10 MW. Scenario 2 employs 20 WPP units, each with a power capacity of 5 MW. Scenario 3 employs 25 WPP units, each with a power capacity of 4 MW. Scenario 4 employs 50 WPP units, each with a power capacity of 2 MW. The purpose of these scenarios is to determine the number of WPPs or WPP capacities that most influence the increase in the amount of the fault currents in the power grid in the distribution network. As a result, scenario 4 gives the largest the fault current contribution when compared to all other scenarios. The addition of the number of WPP units is the most influencing factor in increasing the short-circuit fault current. Each induction generator contained in the DFIG provides the fault current.