An Accurate Model for Steady-State and Dynamic Analysis of the Sicilian Network with HVDC Interconnections

Sicily is one of the first Italian regions for installed power from renewable energy plants, especially photovoltaic and wind plants, and a crucial point for the Mediterranean energy hub. Its role as nexus between the European and the African Continents is becoming more and more significant due to the realization in a short time of the so called Tyrrhenian link and the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connection with Tunisia. In this framework, the paper presents a model of the Sicily power generation and transmission system, including the Tyrrhenian link and two equivalent buses representing the Sardinian power network and the rest of the Continental Europe (CE) synchronous area, for both steady-state and dynamic analysis. The model is developed in Neplan and it is based on the actual structure of the Sicilian power system. The rest of the CE system is represented in the model and validated by a comparison with the large-scale dynamic model of the CE provided by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Finally, some simulations of the Sicilian grid in future energy scenarios are presented, and the behaviour of the system is discussed considering different transient conditions.