An introduction to completing a NERC PRC-019 study for traditional and distributed generation sources

NERC PRC standards have been implemented as a comprehensive plan to increase utility reliability in response to the 2003 Northeast United States blackout. The intent of PRC-019 is to verify regulating controls, limiters, equipment capabilities, and protection controls installed at generation facilities are appropriately coordinated so as to not exacerbate adverse power grid conditions during a system disturbance. PRC-019 provides fairly explicit guidance for what is expected to show compliance for synchronous generator facilities. PRC-019 does not contain explicit guidance on how to show compliance for asynchronous or distributed generation resources. This paper describes the approach, challenges, and lessons learned from performing NERC PRC-019 studies of both typical synchronous and asynchronous generators. Both the commonalities and variances of synchronous and asynchronous generation facilities are highlighted to provide the connecting link between what is explicitly stated in PRC-019 requirements and what is commonly expected by compliance authorities. While the interpretation for what is necessary to demonstrate compliance can vary between reliability coordinators; this paper provides examples of proven compliance documentation for a recent PRC-019 wind farm study.