HIL Testing Facility for PPC Controllers

Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing of Power Plant Controller for Renewable Energy Systems Using RTDS

With the growing integration of renewable energy sources (RES) such as solar PV and wind, centralized Power Plant Controllers (PPCs) play a vital role in maintaining grid stability. PPCs are responsible for ensuring grid code compliance by coordinating the active and reactive power outputs of multiple inverters and Static VAR Generators (SVGs). However, testing these controllers in actual grid environments is often impractical due to safety, cost, and scalability constraints. Real-Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) platforms provide a high-fidelity, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environment to thoroughly evaluate PPC performance under a range of dynamic scenarios.

Role of Power Plant Controller (PPC)

• Coordination of active and reactive power outputs from multiple units
• Grid code compliance (e.g., FRT, ramp rate limits, voltage control)
• Interface between RES plant and grid operator
• Control strategies:
  • Active power curtailment
  • Volt-VAR control
  • Frequency-watt droop control
  • Dynamic set point tracking

RTDS-Based HIL Testing Framework

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing of the PPC using RTDS enables real-time validation of control logic, dynamic performance and grid-interaction behavior, under realistic and extreme operating conditions before field deployment. It enables precise assessment of PPC control functions such as active/reactive power, voltage and frequency droop, power factor, and redundancy, while ensuring compliance and stability as per IEGC Regulations, 2023. RTDS testing allows repeatable, risk-free analysis, streamlining tuning, detecting issues early, and ensuring reliable integration of inverter-based renewables.