Research Summary
Power grid protection systems play a critical role in ensuring reliable energy delivery by detecting and isolating faulty components. But the growing use of power electronic inverters—which connect renewable energy sources to the grid—has created significant challenges for grid protection and control. Traditional protection systems were designed for synchronous generators, which are not present in renewable inverter-based resources (IBRs), such as solar and wind power. As a result, these systems often malfunction, threatening grid reliability and potentially leading to blackouts.
As Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems, Dr. Ali Hooshyar is addressing these challenges. He and his research team are developing next-generation protection systems tailored to grids dominated by IBRs. They are also designing new inverter control strategies that are optimized for handling faults in renewable-centric power systems. Their research will help ensure the reliability and resilience of future power grids as the global energy transition continues.