Transmission and Grid Planning Group is currently undertaking a comprehensive grid balancing study for the Andhra Pradesh power system to assess its readiness for high renewable energy (RE) integration. The analysis begins with production cost simulations using unit commitment and dispatch models to determine how the system operates under current conditions and how it would respond to increasing levels of solar and wind generation. This enables estimation of storage requirements to minimise curtailment and identification of suitable locations for battery or pumped storage installations. In parallel, load flow simulations are conducted to evaluate voltage regulation challenges caused by intermittent generation. Based on these results, reactive power support requirements and transmission network strengthening measures are being identified to ensure that system frequency and voltage remain within permissible limits.
The study also covers protection and dynamic performance of the transmission grid. Short-circuit analysis is being carried out to determine whether existing circuit breakers and protection schemes can withstand higher fault levels arising from additional RE and storage-based interconnections. Where fault contributions exceed permissible limits, mitigation options are being recommended. Additionally, transient stability assessments are evaluating how the grid responds to sudden events such as generator tripping or line outages, especially under conditions where synchronous thermal plants are gradually phased down. This will help quantify the inertia or synthetic support needed from inverter-based resources to maintain grid stability as RE penetration grows.
