Control of PV Generation Systems using the
Synchronous Power Controller
Rodriguez, P.
Abengoa Research
Seville, Spain
pedro.rodriguez@research.abengoa.com
Abstract— The high penetration of distributed generation, as
PV or wind power, has forced the Transmission System
Operators (TSOs) to set restrictive requirements for the
operation of such systems. As it can be extracted from the
forthcoming grid codes drafts, the future distributed
generation systems will be requested to have the equivalent
performance of a synchronous generator, which is seen from
the TSOs as the only solution if a massive integration of
renewable in the electrical network should be achieved. In this
paper a method for controlling PV grid connected power
converters as a synchronous generator, namely Synchronous
Power Controller (SPC), is presented. As a difference with
previous works this method permits to take advantage of
emulating the synchronous behavior meanwhile it is able to get
rid of its drawbacks. The main concept of the SPC, as well as
some simulation and experimental results will be shown in this
paper considering a PV power plant as a study case.
I. INTRODUCTION
The penetration of distributed generation proposes a new
electric power systems approach, being electricity generated
near where it is used, reducing thus the transmission power
losses, as well as the size and number of power lines to be
constructed. The majority of distributed generation systems
are based on renewable energies, specially wind and PV,
being PV the one with best growing perspectives [1].
Nevertheless, PV has a stochastic and a highly variable
behavior, which makes difficult to guarantee power
balancing in the system under specific operating conditions.
Moreover, PV generation systems are usually connected to
the grid by using power converters, whose operation has a
totally different dynamics if compared with the rest of the
electrical network, which is formed mainly by generation
systems based on big synchronous generators, providing thus
a synchronous behavior of the electrical power system.
The lack of inertia of renewable electrical energy
systems, together to their odd transient dynamics, from the
grid operation point of view, gives rise to negative impacts
on the power system operation and thereby hinders their
integration into the system –just the opposite that happens
978-1-4799-0336-8/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
Candela, I. ; Luna, A.
Technical University of Catalonia
Barcelona, Spain
candela@ee.upc.edu
with conventional synchronous generators [2]. Therefore, PV
plants should be provided with specific functionalities to
make them compatible with the operational principles of
synchronous power systems and thereby effectively
achieving their large-scale integration.
To improve the performance of distributed power
systems in general, some studies have been carried out in
order to design control structures for the grid-connection of
power converters of generation plants that are able to
emulate the behavior of synchronous generators. In this
regard two main approaches can be found in the literature.
The first one is oriented to mimic the performance of a
synchronous generator. This concept intends to take
advantage of the properties that synchronous generators
have, in terms of control and friendly operation with the
electrical network. The solutions found in this field are based
on emulating exactly the behavior of a synchronous
generator, by means of introducing its model in the control
layer of the power converter and using its output as the
reference.
Like in a classical synchronous generator these approaches
count on an external droop control for the regulation of the
frequency and the voltage of the network, and introduce the
concept of virtual inertia [3] [6].
The second approach comes from the field of micro-grid
control. In these systems the operation of power converter in
isolated networks, where the voltage magnitude and
frequency should be actively supported, has conducted to
the proposal of several control solutions oriented to enhance
the operation of classical converters in this kind of
networks.
In order to comply with the grid support needs of the
micro grid several solutions have been oriented to aggregate
outer controllers in the aim of contributing to solve specific
issues of this kind of operation. As a difference with the
previous family, where the synchronous generator behavior
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is reproduced, there is not a transformation of the control
concept but an addition of control solutions between [7] -
[8].
However, the improvement of such control models to
shape enhanced synchronous generators based on power
converters leaves still room for new proposals. In this regard,
the work presented in this paper shows a novel control
concept for power converters, namely Synchronous Power
Controller (SPC), which permits to operate the grid
connected power converters as synchronous generators,
taking profit of its advantages meanwhile improving its weak
points.
The main principle operation of this method will be
presented in the next section. Afterwards, in order to probe
the concept, an initial simulation analysis which has been
carried out, considering a PV power plant as the generation
system, will be shown. Finally, the results taken in an
experimental analysis conducted in a scaled setup will permit
to test the good performance of the proposed SPC in a real
application.
II. ELECTRICAL OPERATION PRINCIPLE
The electrical interaction in the connection of a
conventional synchronous generator to the grid can be
studied by using a very simple circuit that represents the AC
voltage at the point of connection, v, the AC internal induced
electromotive force (emf), e, and the output impedance of the
generator, R-L.
Fig. 1. Simplified scheme of the connection of a
synchronous generator to the grid
The dynamic performance of such circuit can be written in
the Laplace domain as:
v ( s ) = e ( s ) − i ( s )( R + Ls ) . (1)
This simple first order differential equation can be easily
discretized and programmed. Thereby, it is possible to
emulate the electrical behavior of a synchronous generator
connected to the grid by programming this dynamical
equation in the digital controller of a power converter. As it
can be straightforward concluded this structure gives rise to
a voltage controlled power converter.
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Several control proposals based on this structure have been
previously reported in the literature [3]-[7]. Some of them
propose a straightforward implementation of the equation
(2). However, this structure presents a problem in practical
applications, since the measured current is affected by a
derivative term. As the output current of an actual power
converter presents high frequency ripple and it can be
affected by transient disturbances, such term gives rise to
peaks and discontinuities in the calculation of the reference
voltage to be provided to the power converter.
These issues can be somehow solved by means of adding
additional filters in the control. However, the overall
performance of the system gets affected by the dynamics of
these filters, also the bandwidth of the controller.
On the other hand, and in order to overcome this drawback,
the SPC is based on an alternative implementation scheme
of the differential equation of (1) as shown in (2), which
results in the averaged control scheme presented in Fig. 2.
1
i( s ) = ( e(s) − v(s) ) (2)
R + sL
As a difference with the virtual impedance approach, the
electrical characteristic described by (2) provides a more
stable performance, smoother and less sensitive to
distortions in the electrical network. This alternative
representation has also a physical meaning, as it represents
the electrical admittance of the virtual generator.
Fig. 2. Current control scheme based on the virtual
admittance concept
This different approach permits to control the system
without adding extra filtering stages, what plays in favor of
the robustness of the control. Moreover, the resulting
structure is based on the implementation of an inner current
control loop, which is an extended method for controlling
commercial power converters devoted to power generation
applications, and thus easy to be implemented.
III. ELECTROMECHANICAL PRINCIPLE
As in the electrical case, the SPC stems from
programming the electromechanical performance of a
synchronous generator in the digital system responsible of
 VDC
LF

i v vg
CF

Δi
i

ωn ξ
v
i* 1 Δv e ωr* Δω ΔP Pinp = Vdc I dc
R + Ls
ωS Pelec = vac iac
E*

Fig.3. Simplified diagram of the implementation of the SPC in a power converter

controlling the PV power converter [6]. However, the SPC
does not aim to mimic the response of the synchronous
generator, but it overcomes the drawbacks of its inherent
oscillatory response optimizing its response in case of
perturbations and fluctuations by introducing a second order
overdamped response to the system.
Therefore, the SPC electromechanical transfer function,
which relates the DC input and the AC output powers, is
given by:
On the contrary that the conventional synchronous
generator, this customized electromechanical transfer
function gives rise to an over-damped response, which
allows attenuating power oscillations in the electrical system
[5]-[6]. The main implementation features of the electrical
and electro-mechanical characteristic of the SPC in the
control of a grid-connected power converter are described in
the simplified diagram of Fig. 3.

PMax IV. SIMULATION RESULTS

Pelec ω 2
J ⋅ ωs One of the main advantages of the SPC, which is
= 2 n
= (3) inherent to its synchronous operation principle, lays on its
Pinp s + 2ξωn s + ωn2 k P
s2 + s + Max capability to work either isolated or grid-connected modes.
J ⋅ ωs J ⋅ ωs Moreover, it is able to change from one mode to the other
without giving rise to undesired transients. In order to show
where Pmax, Pelec, Pinp, J, k and ωs, represents the maximum the capability of the SPC to achieve a smooth transition from
value of the active power that can be delivered by the island to grid-connected operation, a sudden connection to a
synchronous generator, the actual power delivered, the grid is performed as shown in Fig. 4.
input power, the inertia, the damping factor and the In this study case the PV is considered to be able to provide
synchronous frequency of the generator respectively. the nominal power, if necessary, from the DC side.

VDC

is vl ig v g

Fig. 4. Transition from island to grid-connected operation modes

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 Fig. 5. Performance of the output power in grid connected synchronous generators when there is a load change. (a)
Voltage at the PCC; (b) SPC Output current ; (c) Active and reactive power delivered to the load

As it can be seen in the voltage and the current signals where a local variable load is fed. When this load changes,
shown in Figs 5a and 5b, respectively, before the grid as shown in the plots of Fig. 7 both synchronous generators
connection was performed the load was fed completely by experience under-dumped power oscillations which are
the SPC-based power converter. maintained for a long period.

After the connection to the grid the power delivered to the 4

x 10
2
load is shared between the SPC and the grid. As a
Ps [W]

1
consequence, the output current in the SPC decreases. It is
0
very important to outstand that the connection of the system 4
x 10
to the grid has been conducted without the appearance of 2
P c [W]

undesired transients between the isolated to the grid 1

connected mode. 0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

On the other hand, the grid integration capacity of the PV

Fig. 7. Performance of the output power in grid connected
converter based on SPC can be analyzed when its
synchronous generators when there is a load change
performance is compared to that provided with classical
synchronous generators. In the study case of the Fig. 6(a)
two synchronous generators are connected to a weak grid,
PCC
ic ic

Synchronous generator
ig vg ig vg
PV DC/DC DC/AC
converter VDC converter Zg

is is

Variable
SPC-based power converter
Load

Fig. 6. (a) Parallel operation of grid connected synchronous generators, (b) Parallel operation of grid connected a
synchronous generators and SPC power converter
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 In this regard, a SPC based power converter contributes,
positively to improve the overall performance of the
electrical system, due to the fact that it is less prone to
generate power oscillations; meanwhile it also contributes to
damp power oscillations originated by other generators
connected in its neighborhood. This feature can be analyzed
by replacing one of the synchronous generators of Fig. 6(a)
by a SPC-based power converter to the same bus, as it shown
in Fig. 6(b).

4
x 10
2
P s [W]

0
4
x 10
2
P c [W]

1
Fig. 9. Experimental SPC-based power converter
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Fig. 8. Output power in grid connected synchronous and V. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

PV generators based on SPC when there is a load change
As in the previous case, a load step has been made as a
perturbation in the system. In the recorded plots of Fig. 8 it
can be clearly seen how the SPC-based power converter
contributes positively to damp the power oscillations in the
grid, enhancing thus the overall performance of the system.
The performance of the SPC has been evaluated
experimentally in a setup in the range of 10kVA. The
structure of the experiment matches the layout shown in Fig.
4. A picture of the real setup is shown in Fig. 9.
In order to show the performance of the system, a sudden
disconnection from the grid has been conducted in a test. As

Fig. 10. (a) Current performance in one phase in grid connected and island mode (b) Voltage performance in grid
connected and island mode

997
it is proven by the plots shown in Fig. 10, the SPC is able to
form the grid after a total shutdown.
In the Fig. 10(a) the performance of the current in one phase
is presented. Likewise, the behavior of the voltage at the
output of the converter is depicted in Fig. 10(b) and the
output active and reactive power in shown in Fig. 10(c).
The capability of forming an isolated grid is inherent to the
synchronous generator. The results obtained in the test
permit to prove the synchronous performance of the SPC,
and how the system is able to operate isolated from the grid.
In the extended version of this abstract further experimental
results will be provided.
I. CONCLUSIONS
The SPC is able to control the operation of a grid connected
power converter of a PV generation system as a
synchronous generator, permitting even to improve its
response. Its performance is then harmonious with the rest
of the grid, what it is advantageous for the converter’s and
the grid performance
As it is shown, the SPC can be integrated in conventional
PV systems without introducing any hardware changes in its
structure, as affect just the control layer. It is important to
outstand that this control structure can be used as well in
other generation systems, based on primary sources
different than PV.
Likewise, it should be noted that the SPC controller does
not require any synchronization system based on the voltage
conditions, what it compulsory in classical grid feeding
converters. As a difference, the SPC is able to get
synchronized inherently based on the power interchanged
between the converter and the electrical network.
In this short digest the SPC has been proven to provide a
differential performance that contributes to enhance the
performance of the generation system and the effects on the
electrical network.
The SPC concept has been protected by Abengoa Solar NT
under the patents: WO 2012/117133 [9], WO 2012/117132
[10] and WO 2012/117131 [11].
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was partially supported by the Spanish Science
Ministry under the project ENE 2011-29041-C02-01. Any
opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect those of the host institutions or funders.
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