Title of special session: Grid Integration of Power Converters: System Perspective Names and emails of the organizers: Marta

Molinas, and Alejandro Garces, NTNU, Norway [marta.molinas, alejan]@elkraft.ntnu.no Elisabetta Tedeschi, Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain elisabetta.tedeschi@tecnalia.com A short description:
Europe anticipates around 36% of electricity consumption to come from fluctuating renewable energy sources by 2020. This share will mostly be reached through massive integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) through the grid (e.g. wind parks, PV parks, small hydro). Today, Denmark already has a 30% share of distributed generation in its grid, which is equivalent to 30% integration of power converters, without overestimation. Regardless of the Renewable Energy Source (RES) application employed, power electronics, with its embedded control and communication capabilities is undoubtedly the technology that will enable widespread integration of renewable energy systems in these DER systems. The need for dynamic controllability, reliability and increased efficiency will trigger a massive uptake of power electronics couplings in power systems like wind parks, PV parks and small hydro power. As the coupling technology for RESs, the major advantages of power electronics will be the potential for improving efficiency and the introduction of new control abilities for providing ancillary services to the electric grid. While the benefits brought by power converters are more evident, the range of potential consequences that this large uptake can bring at the system level is less evident and is not yet entirely identified. Eventually, a network dominated by power converters will provoke a shift from the well-known electro-mechanical power system to a dominantly cybernetic system in which control of power electronics systems will be a determinant aspect in daily operation. This special session welcomes contributions which identify new issues and points at new perspectives in the uptake of system level solutions related to the integration of large numbers of power converters into the grid.. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: Harmonics oscillations related to power converters in the grid: mitigation methods at the system level Stability analysis methods and tools dedicated to power electronics systems Analysis, modeling and simulation of systems with large number of power converters Design techniques and guidelines for power converter units aimed at ensuring system stability Phenomena related to parallel operation of power converters: mutual interactions and interaction with the component of the grid Control design aspects and its impact on system interactions Experiences from the field (wind parks, PV parks, etc)