Comprehensive Assessment of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Integration in an Isolated Mining Microgrid: Dynamic Stability, Protection Coordination, and Power Quality Analysis
The decarbonization of isolated mining operations has accelerated the adoption of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) generation as a sustainable alternative to diesel-based electricity production. However, high PV penetration in isolated microgrids introduces significant technical challenges, including reduced system inertia, voltage and frequency instability, protection coordination, fault-current variation, and power quality degradation. This study presents a comprehensive technical assessment of integrating a 15 MW photovoltaic power plant into the isolated electrical network of the Société Minière de Dinguiraye (SMD) gold mine in Guinea using ETAP Version 22.5. A high-fidelity digital model of the mining power system was developed, incorporating diesel generators, medium-voltage distribution networks, transformers, industrial loads, photovoltaic generation, advanced inverter controls, protection systems, and an optional Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Five representative operating scenarios were investigated through load-flow, transient stability, short-circuit, protection coordination, harmonic, and renewable intermittency analyses to evaluate the operational performance of the proposed hybrid diesel-PV microgrid. Simulation results demonstrate that the integration of the 15 MW PV plant substantially reduces diesel generation while maintaining acceptable voltage regulation, frequency stability, rotor-angle stability, protection selectivity, and harmonic distortion within the limits specified by IEEE 519. The implementation of advanced inverter control functions and BESS-based fast frequency response further enhances voltage support, improves frequency recovery following disturbances, mitigates renewable intermittency, and increases the overall resilience of the isolated microgrid. The study confirms that large-scale photovoltaic integration can be achieved without compromising system reliability, operational security, or power quality when supported by appropriate control strategies and protection coordination. The proposed ETAP-based assessment framework provides a practical and reproducible engineering methodology for the planning, design, and implementation of renewable-powered isolated mining microgrids, contributing to the decarbonization and sustainable electrification of remote mining operations.
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