2014 International Conference on Power System Technology (POWERCON 2014)
2014
The Key Technology of the Control System of
Wind Farm and Photovoltaic Power Plant Cluster
WANG Ningbo
 province. In 2015, the wind power and PV power installed
Abstract—Wind power and photovoltaic (PV) power genera-
tion have the characteristics of fluctuation and uncertainty, which
adversely affects the operation planning, active/reactive power
regulation and stability control of power system. However ˈ
commonly used control system are designed for distributed single
wind farm or PV power station, and may not be suitable for
large-scale centralized cluster of wind farm and PV power
stations. Therefore, it can greatly optimize the operation planning
and active power regulation of renewable power by operating and
controlling wind farm and PV power station cluster as a whole.
This paper describes a 5-layer hierarchical coordinative control
system for wind farm and PV power station cluster. The cluster
control system is designed on the principle of centralized
optimization and coordination, and layered and zoned control.
The 5-layer cluster control system consists of scheduling center
control station, coordination control upper station, coordination
control lower station, execution control station, and the control
system of wind turbine generator (WTG) and PV inverter. Such
structure will effectively avoid the disadvantages caused by large
scale renewable energy connecting to the grid.
Index Terms—Wind Farm and Photovoltaic Power Plant
Cluster, active power control, reactive power control, security and
stability control, coordination.
I. INTRODUCTION
W ind energy resources abound in the northern areas in
China. The government had planned to build seven
10GW-level wind power bases in Gansu, Xinjiang, Inner
Mongolia, Hebei, Jilin, Jiangsu etc. until 2020. Large-scale
centralized development and long distance transmission have
become the main mode of the utilization of renewable energy.
By the end of 2013, the Hexi Corridor in Gansu province had
become the world’s largest centralized new energy base with
7.07GW wind power and 4.33GW PV respectively, accounting
for about one-third of the total generation capacity of Gansu
Manuscript received July 30, 2014. This work was supported in part by a
grant from the National High Technology Research and Development Program
of China (863 Program) (No. 2011AA05A104) and a grant from the Science
and Technology Project of State Grid Corporation of China (No. 100945408).
WANG Ningbo, is the director of Wind Power Technology Center, Gansu
Electric Power Corporation, SGCC; director of Key Laboratory of Renewable
Energy Generation Integration, Operation and Control, Gansu Province (phone:
0931-2956866; fax: 0931-2956858; e-mail: wangnb@gs.sgcc.com.cn).
POWERCON 2014 Paper No CP2500
Chengdu, 20-22 Oct.
capacities are expected to hit 15GW and 5GW respectively,
more than 40% of the total generation capacity of Gansu
province. Along with the increasing volume and proportion of
wind and photovoltaic power, not only the severe adverse
impact caused by the randomness and volatility, but also the
lack of controllability and insufficient control methods will
lead to a significantly increased risk of power system security
and operation stability. The control ability of active power,
reactive power, security and stability of the large-scale wind
and PV power base needs to be improved [1].
Relying on the 10GW wind power and 1GW PV power base
in Hexi Corridor in Gansu, the research of the key technology
of the control system of wind farm and PV Power plant cluster
can realize the integration and centralized coordination control
of geographically adjacent wind farms and PV power plants.
Based on the existing control ability of wind farms and PV
power plants, the research of clustered control technology will
improve the controllability of the Hexi new energy base and
enhance the utilization of wind/PV power. [2]
II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REAL-TIME STATE MONITORING
NETWORK AND DATA PLATFORM
A. The renewable energy resources measuring network and
data platform
The renewable energy resources monitoring network and
data platform is used to research: the effects of meteorological
elements and terrain factors on the wind and PV power station
output; the relationship between the observed quantity of the
representative observation points and resource characteristics
of the wind farms and PV power plants; the distortion effect
that affects the measured data from real-time state monitoring
network by wind farms and its correction method; the layout of
wind measuring network considering the upstream and
downstream effects of the wind power and the assimilation of
the numerical weather prediction; the layout of solar energy
resources metering network including metering stations, all-sky
imager, cloud radar and satellite cloud picture; the construction
of the corresponding data collection network, large database
and data visualization platform.
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B. The operation information monitoring network and data
platform
The research contents of the operation information
monitoring network and data platform include: the seamless
connection technology between the operation information
monitoring network and the SCADA system of wind farms/PV
power plants, and formulating relevant technical standards and
specifications; the information model of wind/PV power, graph
protracting and browsing technologies; the technology of
wind/PV power massive data storage and transfer; the wind/PV
power data preprocessing technique; wind/PV power
information panoramic visual display technology; the
development of operation monitoring data platform including
information of wind farms/PV power plants and wind
turbines/PV modules.
C. The research of the dynamic state estimation technology
The research contents of the dynamic state estimation
technology include: quality assessment and consistency
checking method of the wind farm and PV power plant data; the
observability of wind turbine/PV module and power station
under low communication reliability; the methods of filling
missing data with redundant observation, filtering errors and
improving the accuracy; the state estimation model and
algorithm of the wind farm/PV power plant cluster, and the
development of corresponding software applications.
III. THE RESEARCH ON THE CHARACTERISTICS, MODELLING
AND VERIFICATION OF WIND AND PV POWER OUTPUT
A. The temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of
wind and PV energy resources and its numerical modelling
technology
The initial field of wind and solar energy resources can be
simulated by mesoscale numerical model. The resources
monitoring network data can be used to evaluate the accuracy
of this initial field and correct the model in order to realize the
numerical simulation of wind and solar energy field. The
temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of wind and PV
energy resources under typical weather processes (such as cold-
warm air frontal passage, gust, appearance and disappearance
of the clouds) should be investigated, as well as the method to
identify the characteristic parameters of the energy field
propagation velocity and decay time constant, etc..
B. The research of the characteristics of wind and PV power
output
The research contents of the characteristics of wind and PV
power output include: the characteristics of wind turbine/PV
module power output with wind speed or irradiation intensity,
the fluctuation of the power output and its probability
distribution; the temporal and spatial distribution and power
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Chengdu, 20-22 Oct. 2014
output characteristics of wind farm and PV plant cluster[3-4]; the
match between active power control parameters of power
system and the wind power and PV power characteristic index,
such as output power fluctuation rate and depth, etc.; the static
models of different types of wind turbines, PV modules, wind
farms and PV power plants and their applications in active
control of wind farm and PV plant cluster.
C. Dynamic aggregated modelling of wind farm and PV
power station
The establishment of the aggregated model of wind farm and
PV power station include: the method to build dynamic
equivalence mathematical models and their parameters
identification of different types of MW grade mainstream wind
turbines and PV modules; the dynamic models of the wind
turbine and PV module which can be used in wind and PV
power research and scientific computing; the dynamic
aggregated models of wind farm and PV power station
considering the wind speed distribution, wake effect, landform,
the geographical distribution of wind turbines and PV modules,
appearance and disappearance of the clouds and other factors;
build the dynamic aggregated modelling of wind farm and PV
power plant[5]; test method to validate the effectiveness of the
above models; the applications of the dynamic models in
cluster control system, reactive power and voltage control and
the security and stability control.
IV. WIND AND PV POWER JOINT PREDICTION AND SUPPORTIVE
SYSTEM FOR PREDICTION RESULTS UTILIZATION
A. Wind and PV power joint prediction system research
The wind and PV power prediction system software is
developed with the real-time data of wind and PV energy
resources, operating and numerical weather prediction. The
main research contents include: the optimization of wind power
prediction model and the data assimilation method including
the optimization of numerical weather prediction; the
prediction algorithm based on region and gradient partition
real-time measurements of wind; the integrated optimization
technique containing multiple prediction model algorithms and
multiple numerical weather prediction models; PV power
prediction and the joint prediction technology of wind and PV
power.
B. The research of statistical characteristic indicator
selection of prediction error and comprehensive evaluation
system
The analysis and evaluation of prediction error is one of the
important contents of wind and PV power prediction theoretical
research, including the prediction error model and the
establishment of a prediction error comprehensive evaluation
system based on the above error model. The specific research
contents include: the influences of different prediction factors
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on error distribution; the distribution characteristics of
prediction errors under different spatial scales and their
correlation; selection of the key operating indicators;
quantitative analysis of the wind and PV power and other
intermittent power’s impacts on the above key indicators;
establishment of the comprehensive evaluation system which
can represent the overall level, distribution, extreme level and
confidence interval of the power forecasting system error, , etc..
C. The research of the supportive system for prediction results
utilization
Combining the prediction error evaluation results, the
development of the application supportive system, i.e., the
application methods of the prediction results in wind farm and
PV power plant cluster, can help to achieve seamless
connection between the prediction system and the dispatch and
cluster control platform. Specific research contents include: the
matching relation among power prediction parameters, power
system dispatching control cycle and system adjustment ability;
the influence of the prediction error on the optimization model
of the wind farm and PV power plant cluster and the
dispatching model; reliability evaluation of the prediction
results and the visualization methods of the error characteristics
indicators; the best matching schemes of a variety of prediction
methods under different control purposes.
V. THE RESEARCH OF CLUSTER OPERATION OPTIMIZATION AND
DEFENSE LINE OF SECURITY AND STABILITY
A. Generation estimation of wind and PV power, planning and
optimization of dispatching
Based on the data of wind and PV energy resources and the
output power model of the station, the research on generation
capacity assessment and the optimized distribution method of
the dispatching plan include: temporal and spatial smoothing
effects of large-scale random power sources; equivalent
capacity of the random power sources with different equivalent
index, such as grid safety margin, the annual energy balance
and grid reliability, etc.; software development of the cluster
annual power forecast; optimized algorithm of the dispatching
plan to each station and each unit.
B. The research of day-ahead generation plan of wind and PV
power stations considering the generator-grid coordination
From the perspective of generator-grid coordination, the
station output power plan optimization software decomposes
the superior dispatching command to calculate the output
power curve for each station for next day, based on the daily
output power models of wind farms and PV power plants and
short-term and extreme short-term wind power prediction
technology. Specific research contents include: day-ahead
power generation capacity of wind farms and PV power plants
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Chengdu, 20-22 Oct. 2014
under partial output mode; establish the model of generating
cost and unit commitment cost of each station under different
control modes; the optimization algorithm of day-ahead
generation plan of wind and PV power stations considering the
generator-grid coordination.
C. The research of defense line of wind farm and PV power
station cluster considering the generator-grid interaction
The research contents of the defense line of wind farm and
PV power station cluster considering the generator-grid
interaction include: the theory of mutual influence on security
and stability between the grid and wind farm or PV power plant
cluster, including the static, transient and dynamic
characteristics of the clusters and their influence on the grid
security and stability after big or small disturbance occurred at
cluster side or grid side; the grid security and stability control
requirements for the cluster and the configuration principle of
three defense lines. Based on renewable energy priority
dispatching principle, (1) the technology of early warning of
on-line security and stability, and auxiliary decision-making to
support the interactivity of the cluster control based on
renewable energy priority dispatching principle; (2) the
strategy of coordination protection configuration between
cluster and grid; (3) optimized configuration and optimization
parameter determination of the second and third defense lines
supporting generator-grid interaction; (4) the principle of
coordinate configuration among the three defense lines
considering the generator-grid interaction; are studied.
VI. THE RESEARCH ON CONTROL STRATEGIES OF WIND FARM
AND PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT CLUSTER
A. The control system framework of wind farm and
photovoltaic power plant cluster
The research contents include:(1) the principle of multiple
target optimization control, control scheme and main control
strategy of wind farm and photovoltaic power plant cluster,
including prevention control, emergency control and
coordinated optimization control. (2) the multiple target
coordination control scheme. (3) the control method of
coordination of prevention control and emergency control.[6]
B. Active power control strategy of wind farm and
photovoltaic power plant cluster control system
The research content is active power coordinated control
strategy of wind farm and photovoltaic power plant cluster
control system, including: (1) multiple constraints and multiple
targets active power control strategy based on the cluster
control system with predictive information and security
constraints. (2) the control strategy based on complementation
relationship of renewable energy cluster and traditional thermal
and hydro power plant. (3) the active power control method of
coordination of prevention control and emergency control.
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Develop intelligent active power control software of wind

power and photovoltaic power plant cluster.[7]
VII. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM
C. Reactive power-voltage control strategy of wind farm and
OF WIND FARM AND PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT CLUSTER
photovoltaic power plant cluster control system
Based on the study above, we research and develop a control
The research content is multiple source reactive
system of wind farm and photovoltaic power plant cluster
power-voltage coordinated control strategy of wind farm and
which has five layers of coordinated control system. As shown
photovoltaic power plant cluster control system, including: (1)
the control scheme which is adapted to grid connection of wind in figure , the five layers includes: scheduling center control
station, coordination control upper station, coordination control
farm and photovoltaic power plant cluster, and can also
lower station, execution control station and inverters of wind
optimize the reactive power-voltage distribution. (2) multiple
farms/PV module.
source reactive power-voltage control strategy considering the
response sensitivity of wind turbine, PV module and
reactive-power compensation equipment. (3) the reactive
power control strategy due to classification of wind power and
PV plant, plant group and cluster. (4) active control strategy
which can improve the LVRT ability of wind farm and
photovoltaic power plant. (5) multiple source reactive power
coordinated control strategy. Develop intelligent reactive
power control software of wind power and photovoltaic power
plant cluster.
D. Stability control strategies of wind farm and photovoltaic
power plant cluster control system
Stability control strategies of wind farm and photovoltaic
power plant system includes: (1) adaptability analysis of
existing stability control strategies. (2) stability control strategy
considering the characteristics of randomness and intermittency
of wind farm and PV plant. (3) the configuration of stability Fig.1 Schematic diagram of 5-layer control system for wind and photovoltaic
control facilities of wind farm and photovoltaic power plant power plant cluster
cluster system. (4) the coordination between cluster system
stability control measure such as generator shedding and the Scheduling center control station locates in Gansu Power
stability control measure of the main grid. Develop stability Grid Scheduling Center. Based on scheduling system D5000, it
control software of wind power and photovoltaic power plant utilizes data from EMS, wind and PV power prediction,
cluster. real-time state monitoring, etc., and carries out stability and
overall active/reactive power regulation strategies analysis
E. Grid-connection control scheme and strategy of wind based on real time operation monitoring, online early warning,
turbine and PV module with cluster constraints stability estimation, renewable energy acceptable capacity
The research content is grid-connection control scheme and estimation and aid decision making of preventive control. With
strategy of wind turbine and PV module with cluster constraints, aided decision-making from dispatcher, orders can be delivered
including: (1) the control strategies of wind turbine which fit to coordination control upper station. From coordination of
into cluster grid-connection constraints and smooth swapping main grid and power source perspective, the generating
between control strategies. (2) the pitch control, speed control capacity of wind farm and PV plant can be evaluated based on
and other active power control strategy under circumstance of the active power model of wind farm and PV plant with the
active power output limits. (3) self-adaptive swapping of forecast result. Comprehensively considering scheduling plan
different reactive power control strategies such as constant and executing orders allocation and stability verification, the
voltage control and constant power factor control. (4) reactive target of multiple source active power scheduling and reactive
power control strategy with grid fault. (5) coordinated power optimization of wind farm and PV plant cluster can be
active/reactive power control in emergency situation. (6) realized. Comprehensively considering condition of grid
self-adaptive active/reactive regulation of grid-connected PV operation, the active/reactive reference orders can be allocated
power system and comprehensive self-adaptive control to upper stations.
technology.

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 2014 International Conference on Power System Technology (POWERCON 2014) Chengdu, 20-22 Oct. 2014

Fig.2 Control flow of scheduling center control station

Coordination control upper station locates in 750 kV stations, and implements coordinated control of 750kV
substations. It receives online control strategies or added substations by means of added control strategies. It decomposes
control strategies from scheduling center control station. It also control orders and allocates them to 330kV substations.
collects messages from other coordination control upper

Fig.3 Control flow of coordination control upper station

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 2014 International Conference on Power System Technology (POWERCON 2014)
Coordination control lower station locates in 330 kV
substations. It receives control command from coordination
control upper station, detects and uploads active/reactive power
and fault information. It also calculates controlling volume for
control target and realized the active/reactive power control and
Fig.4 control flow of coordination control lower station
Execution control station locates in wind farms and PV
plants. It receives and discomposes the orders from
coordination control lower station, and then allocates the orders
to wind turbines, PV modules and reactive power compensation
equipment. Thus, the wind turbines will adjust active power
Fig.5 Control flow of execution control station
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Chengdu, 20-22 Oct. 2014
stability control of the 330kV substation locally. Besides, it
decomposes control orders of active/reactive power control and
stability control and allocates them to execution control station
of wind farms and PV plants.
output by pitch control while the PV module will adjust
active/reactive power output by self-adaptive inverter control.
Meanwhile, execution control station will upload measured
data and orders execution results to coordination control lower
station.
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REFERENCES
[1] Ackermann, Thomas, ed, “Wind power in power systems,” Chichester,
UK: John Wiley, 2005.
[2] Feng X, Kang C, Ningbo W., “Coordinated control frame of large-scale
intermittent power plant cluster,” Automation of Electric Power Systems,
2011, 35(22): 45-53.
[3] Xiao, Chuangying, et al. "Power characteristics of Jiuquan wind power
base." Automation of Electric Power Systems 34.17 (2010): 64-67.
[4] Chuang-ying, XIAO., et al, “System Power Regulation Scheme for
Jiuquan Wind Power Base,” Proceedings of the CSEE 10 (2010): 001.
[5] Yue X, Zheng L, et al. “Dynamic modeling of wind farm composed of
direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generators,” Power System
Technology 38.6 (2014):1439-1445.
[6] Wolff, M., et al. "Advanced operating control for wind farm clusters."
Proc. Sixth International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of Wind
Power and Transmission Networks for Offshore Wind Farms. 2006.
[7] Rohrig, K., et al, “Wind power plant capabilities–Operate wind farms like
conventional power plants,” European Wind Energy Conference. 2009.

WANG Ningbo (China, 1963- ), graduated from Wuhan Academy of

Hydraulic and Electrical Engineering (now belongs to Wuhan University) in
1983 and won the Bachelor degree of electrical engineering.
He has always been working for Gansu Electric Power Corporation, SGCC
since 1983. He had published 2 books by China Electric Power Press, i.e.
“Europe and the USA Wind Power Development Experience and
Enlightenment to China (China, 2010)”, “Large-scale Wind Power Delivery
and Accommodation (China, 2012)” and more than 50 papers in periodicals
such as Proceedings of the CSEE, Power System Automation. Now he studies
renewable energy generation and its integration into electric power grid.
Mr. Wang is the director of key laboratory of renewable energy generation
integration, operation and control, Gansu province; director of engineering
research center of wind power integration, Gansu province; director of
scientific and technological breakthrough team of large-scale renewable energy
generation cluster control, State Grid Corporation of China; deputy director of
wind equipment standardization technical committee, Gansu province.

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