EMT Model Validation of a 2 MVA PV Inverter via Transient and Frequency-Domain Hardware Testing

This paper presents the results and new insights from a hardware test campaign on a 2 MVA PV inverter for validating its vendor-supplied electromagnetic transient (EMT) model. The test campaign was conducted using a 7 MVA grid simulator and a 2 MW PV emulator. It considered both time-domain transient tests and frequency-domain impedance scan tests. The paper highlights the inadequacy of the transient tests in capturing all critical resonance modes of the inverter and the effectiveness of the frequency scan testing in addressing this problem. The paper shows the frequency scan testing as an effective tool for the EMT model validation of IBR units, which can highlight inaccuracies that are easy to overlook when the model validation is performed using only the time-domain transient tests, such as low voltage ride-through and phase jump tests.