Dr.Agustí Egea-Àlvarez Visits School of Electrical and Information Engineering

On November 22, 2019, Dr.Agustí Egea-Àlvarez and Mr.Callum Henderson, a PhD studentfrom the University of Strathclyde, UK visited the School of Electrical and Information Engineering. He presented a report about “Challenges and potential solutions for power systems with high penetration of power converters: a British perspective” on the Weijin Road Campus. Over 50 students and staff attended the speech.

Dr.Agustí Egea-Àlvarez first introduced the high penetration of renewable power generation in the UK power system in which thepower converter dynamics play a dominant role. Then he analysed the problems that a power converter dominated system might face in the following 3-10 years including the frequency stability issues, voltage stability issues and system strength issues. As a potential solution, Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) technology can provide frequency support and enhance system stability. However, there are also some challenges such as interactions and Fault-Ride-Trough capability. Finally, Dr. Agust shared several projects he is currently working on and the specific application of VSM.

Mr. Henderson also shared his current research about VSM. First, he introduced his research progress from the hardware and software aspect. Then he introduced the application of VSM in weak girds. At the end of the speech, Dr Agustí and Mr. Henderson held a further discussion with students and staff.

Dr.Agustí Egea-Àlvarez is a Chancellor’s fellow (Lecturer) at the electronic & electrical engineering department in the University of Strathclyde and member of the PEDEC (Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Conversion) group. His area of expertise is the integration of renewable power into the power system and advanced converter control. He obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD from the Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona in 2008, 2010 and 2014 respectively. In 2015 he was a Marie Curie fellow in the China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) part of State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) in Beijing. In 2016 he joined Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy as converter control engineer working on grid forming controllers and alternative HVDC schemes for offshore wind farms. He joined Strathclyde in 2018. He is a member of IEEE and IET and he is involved in several CIGRE and ENTSO-E working groups. He is currently working in initiatives and projects funded by EPSRC, National Grid ESO, Siemens Gamesa and Scottish Power Renewables.

By the Schoolof Electrical and Information Engineering

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington