Practical Aspects for Reactive Power Capability Grid Code Compliance Simulation Tests

A few years ago, the Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 was issued to serve as a general grid code requirements framework for the connection of generators. Since then, each member state has had to implement it as a national code, considering the specifics of their networks. The compliance is verified with both simulation and field tests. However, the network codes do not provide sufficient details about how exactly the simulation tests are performed for many of the tests. This is also the case with the reactive power capability simulation test. In this paper, we demonstrate some aspects of the power plant hardware that can affect its reactive power capability and must be considered. Hence, we provide practical guidelines allowing experts to perform a more accurate assessment.