Model: WECC Solar | 175 MW

Last updated: 19 June 2025
Version: v4
Software required:
Background
The WECC Solar model is an open-source model of a 175 MW / 200 MVA solar farm with a point of connection voltage of 345 kV - constructed from WECC generic models. By default, this model is configured for 50 Hz networks.
This model is a simplified representation of a generic solar farm. It is intended for gridmo training purposes only. It is not intended to be a detailed representation of a real-world solar farm and is not suitable for grid connection studies of a real-world solar farm.
Models used:
- PSS®E: Generic REGCA1, REECA1 and REPCA1 models (built-in definitions into PSS®E) with dedicated MINS-type frequency and voltage protection models.
- PSCAD™: Generic REGCA1, REECA1 and REPCA1 models in non-blackboxed models with custom frequency and protection models.
- PowerFactory: REEC_A and REGC_A models using the built-in WECC Large-scale PV Plant frame and the Protection V_f_ROCOF relay model.
Description
- Connection point voltage [kV]: 345
- Frequency [Hz]: 50
- Project rated active power [MW]: 175
- Project rated apparent power [MVA]: 200
- Reactive power control modes: Voltage droop control and fixed reactive power control
- Active power control modes: P(f) droop control
- Protection: Over/under frequency and voltage protection
The wecc-solar
model has the following known issues/limitations:
- Power factor control: This control mode is not available.
- Source energy control: This control mode is not available.
- Benchmarking: There are some benchmarking inconsistencies between the PSS®E, PSCAD™ and PowerFactory models.
- Performance: The models have not been tuned for a specific SCR or X/R.
gridmo is a software platform helping engineers conduct grid connection studies, rather than an OEM/model builder. We decided to publish our template/results with these known model issues/limitations in an effort to display the capability of our platform, rather than the performance of an untuned generic model.
Revision history
Version 4 | 19 June 2025
- Updated active current base and reactive current base with typical values for Australian grid connection requirements (
id
base of175 MW
andiq
base of188.1576 MVAr
) - Turned on smiby's initialisation mode and voltage disturbance snubber circuit (which are both on by default in smiby v21)
Version 1.4.16 | 31 July 2024
- Updates to example WECC-SOLAR PV model to align with revised template descriptions.
Version 1.4.5 | 14 November 2023
- Changed default POC voltage from 1.00 to 1.025 [p.u.].
Version 1.3.4 | 1st August 2023
- PSS®E slider file (SLD) was not included in the Engine installer.
To see the changelog for older changes to this model, please see the main gridmo change log here.