Impact of Solar and Wind Power Development Plan

in Thailand by Considering Frequency Response of

Power System
Pornrapeepat Bhasaputra

Chokechai Sansilah

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Thammasat University
Pathumthani, Thailand
Email: bporr@engr.tu.ac.th

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Thammasat University
Pathumthani, Thailand
Email: chokechais@gmail.com

Abstract This paper studies the impacts of solar and wind

power plants on frequency responses of Thailands power system
by considering the power development plan 2010 - 2030 (PDP
2010: revision 3). In this analysis, minutely actual power
generation data from selected solar and wind power plants as
well as actual load profiles of Thailand are used to analyze
frequency deviations of Thailands power system through multiscenario simulations by using the developed real-time automatic
individual power plant parameters tuning (RIPT) frequency
response model under various levels of solar and wind power
installations. The results showed that real-time frequency
deviations which depend on real power deviations and timedepended frequency responses of the power system. In addition,
the maximum frequency deviations of each case are compared to
the frequency standard control for the next fifteen years.
Moreover, prevention plans are discussed in order to maintain
reliability and security of the power system for sustainable power
development plan in Thailand.
Keywords Frequency Response of Power System; impacts of
renewable power; solar power plant, wind power plant;

I.

INTRODUCTION

Thailand power development plan 2010 - 2030 (PDP 2010;

revision 3) is targeted to increase the share of renewable power
to enhance the security of the power system. According to the
plan, solar and wind installed capacities will increase to 3,940
MW and 1977 MW in the year 2030, respectively [1-2]. Recent
studies have found that the impacts on voltage stability and
frequency deviation of the power system are becoming
significant at high solar and wind power penetration.
Generally, fluctuations of solar and wind power generations
due to weather conditions, are deviating the system frequency
because of the imbalance between generations and loads during
adjustment of power generation system. Normally, Thailands
power system is controlled frequency at 50 Hz by the
automatic generation control (AGC) system, the ability to
maintain the frequency of the system depends on
characteristics of the power system at considering time, which
concerned the combinations of online-generator types and its
parameter settings. Therefore, the frequency response
simulations are necessary to investigate effective solar and

Woraratana Pattaraprakorn
Chemical Engineering
Thammasat University
Pathumthani, Thailand
Email: pworarat@engr.tu.ac.th

wind power deviation that the results can support system

operator to make prevention plan in order to maintain power
system reliability.
Studying of frequency responses for power systems in the
past, there are many research approaches and most of the
researches used mathematical models to study through
computer simulations. The generalized frequency response
models of power systems are proposed by Kunpur P. [3] and
Saadat H. [4] then the modified frequency response model for
specific power plant types is studied in [5] and renewable
energy integration are studied in [6, 7]. In frequency response
simulation, the parameters of power plants for simulations are
very important. Therefore, the researcher has suggested system
inertial frequency response estimations in [8]. Many recent
related researches in frequency response are proposed and
studied through the test system [7, 9] or studying influence of
solar and wind power integration on frequency dynamic for
individual area through various cases with loss of large plant
[10]. All of researchers proposed improved frequency response
model as well as control schemes for system reliability
improvement. However, studies of real-world power system is
complicated because the system has various types of power
plants.
The main purpose of this study is to investigate impact of
large solar and wind power integrations on Thailands power
system through considering frequency deviations. In this study,
various cases of integrations of conventional power plants with
solar and wind power plants from the PDP 2010 revision 3 will
be simulated through the RIPT frequency response model.
This paper consists of six sections. Section 1 introduces the
research of solar and wind impacts on frequency response.
Then PDP 2010 revision 3 is described in section 2 and section
3 discuss about the deviations of solar and wind power plants
and its impacts. Section 4 explains more details about multiscenario simulation of frequency response for Thailands
power system, then the simulation results of the real-time
frequency response are discussed in section 5. Finally, the
conclusion of this study and recommendation of power system
reliability and security for sustainable power development plan
with solar and wind power plants will be presented in section 6.

978-1-4799-7961-5/15/$31.00 2015 IEEE

II.

POWER DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THAILAND

Thailands Power Development Plan (PDP), is the master

investment plan for power system development. The themes of
PDP 2010 substantially focused on security and adequacy of
power system, environmental concern, energy efficiency and
renewable energy promotion. The PDP targeting on increasing
share of renewable energy and alternative energy uses by 25
percent instead of fossil fuels within the next 10 years, new
projects of renewable energy development are initiated into
PDP2010 revision 3. Hence, at the end of 2030, total capacity
of solar and wind power will be up to 3,940 MW and 1,977
MW or 5.6 and 2.8 percent of total generating capacity in the
power system, respectively. (As shown in figure 1) According
the PDP 2010 revision 3, this study will investigate the impacts
of increasing uncertain solar and wind power.

applied in preparing of reserved power and planning of solar

power installation for each area. In addition, figure 3 showed
that the distributions of power deviations in a minute interval,
most probability of power deviations are approximately 18% of
installed capacity which is 5.90 of a standard deviation.

Fig. 2. Real Power Deviations of Solar Power Plants

Fig. 1. Installation Capacities of Solar Power Plants from PDP2010

III.

IMPACTS OF SOLAR AND WIND POWER PLANTS

A. Real Power Deviations of Solar Power Plants

Solar power plants convert the solar radiance of the sun into
electrical power. Thus, any variations in the solar radiance lead
to fluctuations in the generated output power. The time period
of fluctuations can range from a few seconds to few hours
depending on wind speed, type and size of passing clouds, and
the locations of the solar power plants. Therefore, the time
period for collecting the solar power output should be accurate
for frequency response simulations.
Figure 2 shows minutely average and standard deviation of
power generation data for 30 MW of solar power plant during
January 2014. The average power generation of one day is
12.13 MW or 40.45% of the installed capacity. In addition,
power deviations in the morning and evening of the day
(06.00-09.00 AM and 4.00-6.00 PM) are around 10 percentage
of installed capacity while during 12.00 AM to 2.00 PM, the
power deviations are more than 18% of installed capacity. It
should be noted that the most power deviations are occurring
during the noon. Moreover, the standard deviation can be

Fig. 3. Probability of Real Power Deviations for Solar Power Plants

B. Real Power Deviations of Wind Power Plants
Actual minutely power generation of 1.5 MW wind power
plant during January 2014 are analyzed and the results shown
in figure 4 that the average power generation of one day is 0.27
MW or 17.99% of the installed capacity and the standard
deviations are higher than solar power plants and nearly
constant throughout the day. In case of wind power plants, the
power deviations directly depend on the location and weather
condition, specifically.
Consider on figure 5, the distributions of power deviations
at 1 minute interval, most probability of power deviations are
approximately 24% of installed capacity which is 7.78 of a
standard deviation.

possible typical ranges of individual power plant parameters

are used for running in model to find out reasonable model
that can represent frequency response characteristics of the
system. RIPT model simulates the isolated power system
which is parallel connection of 173 power generators with 4
groups of power plant types, 49 generators of hydro power
plants, 17 generators of thermal power plans, 46 generators of
combined cycle power plants and 61 generators of IPPs
combined cycle power plants, Block diagram of RITP
frequency response model shown in figure 6.

Fig. 4. Real Power Deviations of Wind Power Plants

Fig. 5. Probability of Real Power Deviations for Wind Power Plants

IV.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE SIMULATION OF THAILAND

POWER SYSTEM

In frequency response simulations, the worst case scenario,

the largest power deviations for each moment of solar and
wind power plants are used to simulate realtime frequency
deviation of the power system, through the developed
mathematical model called RIPT frequency response model in
order to investigate the impacts of both renewable resources.
This paper will simulate the yearly frequency response from
the year 2014 2030 by considering the installed capacity of
solar and wind power plants followed the PDP2010 revision 3.
The generators operating conditions use the unit
commitment for the peaked load day of the year that the
different types of generators will operate to meet the power
demand during the day. The real-time automatic individual
power plant parameters tuning (RIPT) frequency response
model is the time-dependent model based on amounts, types
and capacities of online-generators at a considered time.
According to numerous unknown parameters in the system, all

Fig. 6. Block Diagram of RIPT Frequency Response Model

V.

SIMULATION RESULTS OF A CASE STUDY : PDP 2010

REVISION 3

In normal conditions, the system frequency is controlled

within + 0.1 Hz either side of 50 Hz, then out of this range are
emergency control ranges. In this section, the results of the
multi-scenario simulations are compared to the frequency
standard control, section A, B and C present the real-time
maximum frequency deviations of peaked load day by
considering impacts of solar power plant, wind power plant
and a combination of wind and solar power plants,
respectively, and section D presents the yearly maximum
frequency deviations. It should be noted that the presented
frequency deviations in this paper are extremely high because
the possible maximum power deviations of each moments are
used to simulate the frequency deviation of the power system.
A. Impacts of Solar Power Plants
The minutely maximum power deviations during the
peaked load day of the year for solar power plants have

effected to the system frequency deviations as shown in figure

7, the maximum frequency deviations during 1.30 PM to 2.30
PM are higher than the normal control range (0.1 Hz) and the
maximum frequency deviation was found at 1.30 PM with the
magnitude 0.14 Hz which has the frequency response as figure
8.

Fig. 7. Impacts of Solar Power Integration on Frequency

Deviations for Peaked Load Day of The Year 2015

378.4 MW. In case of the AGC turns off, system frequency

was decreased 0.1 Hz to new steady state 49.9 Hz within 30
seconds. While, system frequency was dropping to 49.9 Hz for
7 seconds and grain back to the normal frequency within 50
seconds in case of AGC turning on.

Fig. 9. Impacts of Wind Power Integration on Frequency

Deviation for Peaked Load Day of The Year 2015

50.05

50.02
50

50
49.98
Solar drecrease 364 MW without AGC
Frequency (Hz)

Frequency (Hz)

49.95
Solar drecrease 364 MW with AGC
49.9

49.85

49.96

Wind drecrease 378.4 MW without AGC

Wind drecrease 378.4 MW with AGC

49.94
49.92
49.9

49.8

49.88
49.75

10

15

20

25

30
35
Time(s)

40

45

50

55

60

49.86

10

15

20

25

30
35
Time(s)

40

45

50

55

60

Fig. 8. System Frequency Response of Maximum Solar Power

Deviation

Fig. 10. Frequency Response of Power System due to Wind

Power Deviation

B. Impacts of Wind Power Plants

The minutely maximum power deviations during the
peaked load day of the year for wind power plants have
effected to the system frequency deviations as shown in figure
9. It has been found that the average frequency deviations
throughout the day is 1.02 Hz and more than 49% of
frequency deviations in one day are over than normal
frequency control range especially during 2.00 PM to 0.00
AM. In addition, the maximum frequency deviation occurred
at 7.00 PM with the magnitude 0.19 Hz.
Figure 10 presents the frequency responses of the power
system at 7.00 PM for the worst case scenario that the
generated power of wind power plant was suddenly decreased

C. Co-impacts of Solar and Wind Power Plants

Co-impacts of solar and wind power plants on frequency
deviations of power system depend on capacity ratio of both
renewable resources, total magnitude of power deviation and
frequency response of the power system at that time. The realtime maximum frequency deviations of peak load day for solar
and wind power plants shown in figure 11. The average
maximum frequency deviation for a peaked load day of the
year is 1.25 Hz and around 68.0% of frequency deviations are
over the normal control range (0.1 Hz). In addition, the
maximum frequency deviation occurred at 11.15 AM with the
magnitude 0.25 Hz.

Case 1: Impacts of Solar Power Plants

For the next 15 years, the maximum frequency deviations
of Thailands power system have probably incremental trends
due to influence of incremental solar power capacity as shows
in Figure 13. In addition, the simulation results show that the
most yearly frequency deviations are over the normal control
range and the highest frequency deviation (0.36 Hz) is
observed in the year 2030 which presented a larger change of
solar power.
Case 2: Impacts of Wind Power Plants

Fig. 11. Impacts of Solar and Wind Integrations on Frequency

Deviations for Peaked Load Day of The Year 2015

Case 3: Co-Impacts of Solar and Wind Power Plants

50.1

The yearly frequency deviations are rapidly increased

during the year 2014-2017 due to the rapidly incremental ratio
of solar and wind power then the frequency deviations during
the year 2018-2030 are nearly same. In addition, the maximum
frequency deviation is 0.57 Hz which observed in the year
2030.

50.05
50

Frequency (Hz)

49.95
49.9

Wind&Solar drecrease 691.1 MW without AGC

Wind&Solar drecrease 691.1 MW with AGC

49.85
49.8
49.75
49.7
49.65
49.6

In case of wind power plants, the frequency deviations are

rapidly increased during the year 2014-2020 due to the ratio of
installed capacity for wind power plants are increased, based
on the total capacity. The highest frequency deviation is 0.50
Hz, which observed in the year 2020 while the frequency
response for the year 2030 is 0.40 Hz.

10

15

20

25

30
35
Time(s)

40

45

50

55

60

Fig. 12. Frequency Responses of Power System due to solar

and Wind Power Deviations
The frequency response of the power system at 11.15 PM
for the worst case scenario that the generated power of solar
and wind power plants were suddenly decreased 691.1 MW.
In case of the AGC turns off, system frequency was decreased
0.25 Hz to new steady state 49.75 Hz within 30 seconds.
While, system frequency was dropping to 49.73 Hz for 7
seconds and grain back to the normal frequency within 50
seconds in case of AGC turning on.
D. Impacts of Solar and Wind Power plants by Considering
PDP 2010 Vesion 3
The maximum power deviations of solar and wind power
plants are used to simulate the impacts of incremental solar
and wind installations by following the PDP2010 revision 3
and yearly results of maximum frequency deviations are
presented in figure 13, 14 and 15 for solar power, wind power
and the combination of solar and wind power, respectively.

Solar and wind power plants will lead the frequency

response of Thailands power system to weakest system
because the total inertia of the system will reduced by
incremental the ratio of total solar and wind power plants,
based on the total capacity. However the Thailands power
system can maintain system reliability and security for
sustainable power development plan with solar and wind
power plants by realizing the ratio of total both renewable
power plants with total power plants but impossible for
realistic PDP. The further study of solar and wind power plant
controllers, especially modern inverter is needed to handle the
fluctuation of solar and wind power. Finally, the additional
regulation for solar and wind power plants in term of energy
storage requirement will be studied to optimize between
incremental cost of energy storage and the system stability.
VI.

CONCLUSION

This paper presents frequency responses of Thailands power

system for the next 15 years by considering the influences of
solar and wind power integrations followed the PDP 2010
revision 3. The developed RIPT frequency response model
which is a time dependent model based on characteristics of
online-generators at a specific time, is used to investigate
impacts of solar and wind power deviations. The simulations
are performed by multi-scenarios of power plant operating
condition, with the assumptions of maximum solar and wind
power deviations in minutely interval. The results present the
real-time frequency responses of each operating conditions for
15 years of the PDP.

Fig. 13. Maximum Frequency Deviations of Solar Power

Intregrations

In addition, the results show that maximum frequency

deviations of Thailands power system have probably
incremental trends due to influence of incremental solar and
wind power capacities. The highest frequency deviations for
solar power, wind power and combination of solar and wind
powers are 0.36 Hz, 0.40 Hz and 0.57 Hz, respectively.
Actually, these impacts of solar and wind power deviations
can be solved by reserving power or application of various
energy storage. Therefore, the further researches in more
details about long term planning of solar and wind power
plants for frequency response are very important to maintain
reliability of the power system in critical period, system
operators have to provide reserve power to ensure there is
enough governing and load response to keep the frequency in
the normal control range. However, long term protective
planning are needed as well as the regulation for solar and
wind power plants.

REFERENCES
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Thailand (2014). Power Development Plan 2010 Revision 3.
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[3] Kunpur P., Power system stability and control, McGrawHill, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1994
[4] H. Saadat, Power System Analysis, McGraw-Hill, 1999.
Fig. 14. Maximum Frequency Deviations of Wind Power
Intregrations

[5] Gillian L., Julia R., Damian F. and Mark J. OMalley,

Power Systems, The Impact of Combined-Cycle Gas
Turbine Short-Term Dynamics on Frequency Control, Vol. 20,
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frequency

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Sustainable Energy, Frequency Response of Power Systems
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Fig. 15. Maximum Frequency Deviations of Solar and Wind
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