Template: AEMO Dynamic Model Acceptance tests (DMAT)

Version: 13

Last updated: 10 June 2025

Country:

Software required:

PSS®E

PSCAD™

Source: AEMO | Dynamic Model Acceptance Test Guideline | Version 3 | 3 June 2024

Preview of template's gridmo Flow showing Nodes

Actions

Configure your Global Variables and Scenario Variables using gridmo's Model setup template.
"Table 22 DMAT" refers to a subset of DMAT and represents a "list of minimum mandatory tests". "Full DMAT" refers to completing all of DMAT. The template is configured to run "Table 22 DMAT" by default since this is typically sufficient. If your project requires running the "Full DMAT" you must complete the following:
- Right click on any Loop Start Node, select all Loop Start Nodes, then right click again on the same Loop Start Node and click Enable all loops.
- Enable Start Node 1501 - Table 3 (Tests 1 - 36): Balanced faults.
- Enable Loop Start Node 1513 - Table 12B (Test 192): 2 deg phase oscil.
If your project's minimum short circuit ratio is less than 3 and you are completing "Full DMAT", you must complete the following:
- For all Loop Start Nodes, if the $l_scr Loop Variable is 3, replace with your project's minimum SCR.
- For all Loop Start Nodes, if the $l_xr Loop Variable is 3, replace with your project's minimum X/R ratio.
If your project is located in South Australia, you are required to complete all tests where the terminal SCR and X/R values are reduced to 1.5 and 2 respectively. In this instance, you must complete the following:
- Calculate the connection point SCR and X/R values which are equivalent to the terminal requirements of 1.5 and 2 respectively (e.g. SCR of 1.5 at the equipment terminals may correspond to an SCR of 1.9 at the connection point).
- Create new scenario(s) for these SA specific operating conditions whereby $min_scr and $min_xr will be set as Scenario Variables.
If your generating system models source energy (e.g. solar irradiance, wind speed), you must complete the following:
- Use the "Source energy helper" Run to determine the relationship between source energy and terminal active power [MW] - which may be non-linear (e.g. wind speed).
- Loop Start Node 1387 and 1392: Based on your results from the "Source Energy Helper", update the Loop Variables l_test_se_avail_pscad and l_test_se_avail_psse. For example, when l_test_se_avail_disp is 50%, update l_test_se_avail_pscad and l_test_se_avail_psse with the value of source energy corresponding to 50% of terminal active power [MW].
- Loop Start Node 1450: Update the VAL= argument(s) in the l_test_pscad_se_steps Loop Variable with the source energy value corresponding to the l_test_desc Loop Variable. For example, when l_test_desc is 40% to 60%, update the first VAL= in l_test_pscad_se_steps with the value corresponding to 40% of terminal active power [MW], and repeat for the second VAL= argument, setting to the value for 60% terminal active power [MW].
If your generating system does not support voltage control mode, disable tests, 'Table 8 (Tests 149 - 154): Vref steps'.
If your generating system does not support power factor control mode, disable tests, 'Table 8 (Tests 161 - 166): PFref steps'.
If your generating system does not support reactive power control mode, disable tests, 'Table 8 (Tests 161 - 166): Qref steps'.
If your generating system does not model source energy (e.g. BESS, synchronous machines), disable tests, 'Table 17 (Tests 226 - 229): Source energy changes'.
If your generating system contains synchronous machines, you must enable 'Section 3.6: Synchronous machines' tests and complete the following:
- Choose initial Qpoc values for Case study 1 and Case study 2.
- Choose Pmin values for Case study 1 and Case study 2.

Background

The number and complexity of user models have increased during the energy transition. In an effort to ensure models are "usable..., numerically robust, and represents the installed plant...", AEMO requires proponents to meet a collection of requirements and complete a series of Dynamic Model Acceptance Tests - collectively referred to as "DMAT".

Importantly, DMAT does "...not assess compliance of any given plant with performance or access standards at its connection point". Although DMAT can often reveal potential plant performance issues, it is not an assessment of those performance issues. Instead, it is an assessment of the models themselves.

note

"Table 22 DMAT" refers to a subset of DMAT known as ""Minimum Mandatory DMAT"" and represents a "list of minimum mandatory tests". "Full DMAT" refers to completing all of DMAT. The gridmo template can be configured to run either "Table 22 DMAT" or "Full DMAT" by enabling/disabling loops - noting that the loop variable l_is_full_or_t22 has been created to distinguish Table 22 (T22) tests easily.

Reference

Common assumptions

Supporting documentation like Releasable User Guides (RUGs) etc are required as part of the DMAT and are not included in this template.
AEMO DMAT requires that dynamic data to be provided as a per unit value on the machine's MVA base - however, based on our experience, our template has been configured for the more common units used in DMAT submissions, such as: Voltage [p.u.], Active power [MW], Reactive power [MVAr], Iq [p.u. on machine base], Frequency [Hz], Angle [degrees].
The template has primarily been configured for asynchronous generating systems.
Some test numbers actually require multiple different tests. For example, Table 4 test 37 must be completed at SCR=10, X/R=14 and SCR=POC, X/R=POC. In such instances, we have included suffixes on the test numbers such as 37A and 37B.
Where relevant, we have included extra PSS®E Nodes which are used to show what test was applied with your generating system out of service. These are indicated by the Node description, "Generate applied test".
By default, all Plot Nodes are configured to benchmark PSS®E and PSCAD™ results. This is the recommended approach due to its simplicity. If desired, you can enable the PSCAD™ only and PSS®E only Plot Nodes to submit separate DMAT reports for each software package. For these benchmarked plots, we have used the ADVBANDS error bands to assess model alignment. DMAT does not explicitly mention how model alignment should be assessed and therefore we have chosen to use the same error band requirements outlined in the AEMO Power System Model Guidelines for R2 overlays between real data and power systems software.

Source energy helper

Some tests in this template require the generator under test's source energy to be varied (where source energy is solar irradiance, wind speed etc.) Specifically, this template requires the source energy to be varied such that available active power can be limited to values such as 100%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30% and 5%. The relationship between source energy and terminal active power [MW] of a generating unit is typically non-linear and may be specific to particular OEM models, especially for PSCAD™ wind turbine models (i.e. wind speed v.s. active power).

Helper 1: Source energy (Node 1175) has been provided in the template to help you understand the relationship between source energy and terminal active power [MW] of a generating unit. We recommend running the source energy helper Run, which loops over different source energy values using the loop variable l_se_step. You need to update the values of l_se_step depending on the PSCAD™ model source energy requirements and units. Some common options may be:

l_se_step [p.u.] (Default in template): Source energy is expressed in per unit on machine base. Loop over values from 0 to 1.
l_se_step [W/m²]: Source energy is irradiance and expressed in W/m². Loop over values from 0 to 1000.
l_se_step [m/s]: Source energy is wind speed and expressed in m/s. Loop over values from 0 to 40.

The output of the source energy helper Run is a scatter plot and spreadsheet which provides the relationship between terminal active power [MW] of the generating unit and source energy. Once you understand the relationship between source energy and terminal active power [MW], update the relevant Loop Variables in the following Loop: Start Nodes:

Loop: Start Node 1387
Loop: Start Node 1392
Loop: Start Node 1450

Table 2 (Tests 0.1 - 0.3): Flat run, snapshot and initialisation

The purpose of Table 2 is to demonstrate your model's ability to run a long flat run in a robust manner, initialize in < 3 seconds accommodate the snapshot functionality.

We recommend running a broader range of operating conditions to confirm initialization in < 3 seconds (e.g. P_min/P_max, Q_min/Q₀/Q_max, SCR_min/SCR_max+X/R_min/X/R_max). For such tests, see our Model setup template.

Assumption

Tests 0.4 and 0.5 (snapshot and initialisation tests) have not been included in our template as providing a plot as evidence of a successful snapshot is likely insufficient. However, gridmo does support manual snapshots using an Advanced Parameter in the PSCAD™ Node.

Table 3 (Tests 1 - 36): Balanced faults

The purpose of Table 3 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across a range of operating conditions and balanced faults.

Table 4 (Tests 37 - 120): Unbalanced faults

The purpose of Table 4 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across a range of operating conditions and unbalanced faults.

Table 5 (Tests 121 - 125): Unbalanced MFRT

The purpose of Table 5 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across different balanced and unbalanced MFRT sequences.

Sequence S1 is a pre-determined series of faults. In accordance with the AEMO requirements, we generated sequences S2 to S5. These sequences are deterministic and are detailed in the MULTIFAULT Command.

danger

AEMC ERC0393 changed the definition of a 'disturbance' in the National Electricity Rules (NER). This change becomes mandatory for new generating system connections from late August 2025.

The new definition is: A disturbance is defined to have ended 20 milliseconds after the voltage at the connection point recovers to within 0.90-1.10 pu. This means that the minimum time between disturbances in a multiple fault ride-through sequence is now effectively 20 milliseconds.

However - as the AEMO DMAT document has not been updated with this new definition, we have not yet updated the AEMO DMAT template for this requirement.

However, a new optional argument MIN_TIME_BETWEEN_FAULTS= has been added to the MULTIFAULT command. Adding MIN_TIME_BETWEEN_FAULTS=0.02 to the MULTIFAULT command will shift the fault inception times to space subsequent faults by at least 20 ms.

Table 6 (Tests 126 - 130): Balanced MFRT

The purpose of Table 6 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across different balanced MFRT sequences. As the faults are balanced, the plots are benchmarked with PSS®E and PSCAD™ by default.

In accordance with the AEMO requirements, we generated sequences P1 to P5. These sequences are deterministic and are detailed in the MULTIFAULT Command.

In accordance with section 3.2.8, if protection tripping is not captured by the MFRT sequences and explicit confirmation of protection is required, use the part of S5.2.5.4 of the AEMO Generator Performance Standards (GPS) template which causes UV and OV trips.

Table 7 (Tests 131 - 148): TOV

The purpose of Table 7 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across different temporary over voltage (TOV) tests.

TOV methodology - Capacitor v.s. playback

AEMO states the methodology for Table 7 tests whereby "the test case is carried out via application of a switched shunt (capacitive) element at POC". This methodology is enabled by default. However, some engineers prefer to use a voltage source playback rather than a capacitor switch-in for TOV tests. Therefore, we have provided this alternate methodology and disabled it by default.

There are pros and cons of each methodology:

Via capacitor: This is the methodology outlined in the DMAT document. This methodology helps to avoid using a Thévenin equivalent voltage source playback for very high voltage dips which has been known to cause unrealistic and undesirable generating systems responses.
Via playback: This methodology avoids large transients when the capacitor is switched in and switched out and can be therefore easier to determine model robustness for such overvoltages.

Table 8 (Tests 149 - 166): Vref, Vgrid, Qref and PFref steps

The purpose of Table 8 is to demonstrate your model's ability to operate in different reactive power control modes.

Assumption

Figure 3 is assumed to refer to Thévenin equivalent voltage source steps (i.e. Vgrid).
Figure 4 y-axis, "Reactive Power Reference [pu]" is assumed to have a base unit of the generating system rated active power [MW].
Tests 161 - 166 are conducted for both fixed reactive power control mode and power factor control mode.
Tests 155 - 166: We assume that the initial connection point voltage is 1.0 p.u. rather than default connection point voltage. The note, "Voltage Reference is applied as a relative change (whereas the figure indicates an absolute change from 1.0 pu) from the starting voltage reference of the plant or production unit controller, taking into account system strength, reactive power flow and the droop functionality" is ambiguous since it only refers to the Vref test and not the Vgrid/Qref/PFref tests.

Table 9 (Tests 167 - 169): Pref steps

The purpose of Table 9 is to demonstrate your model's ability to operate in active power control mode.

In accordance with section 3.2.11, you must choose the time between Pref steps such that "the timing is expected to be of sufficient duration to allow reduction to occur". Some generating systems may require longer times between Pref steps. The required timing will depend on your active power control mode gains as well as your ramp up and ramp down control limits (e.g. expressed in MW/sec). If required, edit the simulation time of the relevant PSS®E Dynamic, PSCAD™ and Plot Nodes.

Table 10 (Tests 170 - 177): Frequency ramps

The purpose of Table 10 is to demonstrate your model's ability to operate in frequency control mode.

Assumption

Tests 170 - 173: Figure 7 contains 4 grid frequency ramp profiles which are designated with the following test number suffixes:
- A: 4 Hz/s ramp to 52Hz.
- B: 4 Hz/s ramp to 51.75Hz.
- C: 4 Hz/s ramp to 51.5Hz.
- R: 2/3 Hz/s ramp to 52Hz (i.e. "...frequency reaching 52 Hz over 3 seconds").
We assume that tests A and R are required as part of Table 22.
Tests 174 - 177: Figure 8 contains 2 grid frequency ramp profiles which are designated with the following test number suffixes:
- A: 4 Hz/s ramp to 47Hz.
- R: 1 Hz/s ramp to 47Hz (i.e. "...frequency change of 1 Hz/second over 3 seconds").
We assume that tests A and R are required as part of Table 22.

Table 11 (Tests 178 - 179): Grid voltage changes

The purpose of Table 11 is to demonstrate your model's ability to respond to grid voltage changes.

Figure 10: The figure shows three different test methodologies and we have included each methodology (e.g. Test 186A-10 is Test 186 with the first X/R configuration and 10% extended dip grid voltage recovery).

Assumption

Tests 186 - 189: The extended dip grid voltage recovery is created through a combination of two events. This methodology helps to avoid using a Thévenin equivalent voltage source playback for very low voltage dips (e.g. 10%) which has been known to cause unrealistic and undesirable generating systems responses. The two events are:
- A fault impedance applied at 5 seconds for a duration of 500ms.
- A Thévenin equivalent voltage source playback ramp at 5.5 seconds for a duration of 1 second.

Table 12 (Tests 190 - 192): Grid oscillation rejection

The purpose of Table 12 is to demonstrate your model's ability to reject grid voltage amplitude and phase oscillations.

Assumption

Test 192: Note 26 states that "The upper frequency at which tests would be conducted will depend on the control system bandwidth and may need to cover up to and including nominal frequency. At least tests up to 20Hz shall be performed as a minimum in all circumstances". However, Table 22 states "...up to and including 25Hz [are to be completed]". We have assumed that tests up to 25Hz are required as part of Table 22.

Table 13 (Tests 193 - 198): Grid voltage angle changes

The purpose of Table 13 is to demonstrate your model's ability to respond to grid voltage angle changes.

For SMIB studies, we set the Thevenin equivalent voltage source angle as the 0° reference. Therefore, the initial angle at the POC will not be 0° for initial conditions where there is significant active and reactive power flow across the Thevenin equivalent impedance (e.g. Ppoc = 1 pu).

Assumption

In accordance with Note 29, we have split each test event "Grid voltage angle change equal to ±40° and ±60°" into four different dynamic simulations, rather than having a single dynamic simulation with multiple subsequent angle changes (i.e. the tests are "treated as standalone steps"). This helps users isolate and resolve issues as well as decrease simulation time due to better simulation parallelization capability. The four tests are designated by the following:
- P40: Positive 40 degrees (+40°)
- P60: Positive 60 degrees (+60°)
- N40: Negative 40 degrees (-40°)
- N60: Negative 60 degrees (-60°)

Table 14 (Test 199): Pref steps - SCR=1

The purpose of Table 14 is to demonstrate your model's ability to output active power under very low grid SCR conditions. For many generating system technologies "it is expected that the plant is unable to maintain stable operation at 100% output level". Table 14 investigates at which point this instability may occur.

Some generating systems may require longer times between Pref steps. The required timing will depend on your active power control mode gains as well as your ramp up and ramp down control limits (e.g. expressed in MW/sec). If required, edit the simulation time of the relevant PSS®E Dynamic, PSCAD™ and Plot Nodes.

Assumption

Section 3.2.17 implies that both PSS®E and PSCAD™ simulations are required for this test. However, we note that PSS®E may be very unstable at an SCR of 1.0 for some models. We therefore assume that this test is a PSCAD™ only test. However, a pre-configured (but disabled by default) PSS®E test is included.

Table 15 (Tests 200 - 205): Balanced faults - SCR=1

The purpose of Table 15 is to demonstrate your model's fault ride through capability under very low grid SCR conditions. For many generating system technologies "It is expected that the plant/model performance would not be able to sustain operation at SCR = 1".

Assumption

The requirement methodology is unclear. The test description requires "pre-disturbance SCR conditions are lowered to SCR=1" but the contents of Table 15 outlines pre-fault and post-fault SCR, implying post-disturbance SCR conditions are lowered to SCR=1. We have assumed the latter.
Section 3.2.18 implies that both PSS®E and PSCAD™ simulations are required for this test. However, we note that PSS®E may be very unstable at an SCR of 1.0 for some models. We therefore assume that this test is a PSCAD™ only test. However, a pre-configured (but disabled by default) PSS®E test is included.

Table 16 (Tests 206 - 225): Balanced faults

The purpose of Table 16 is to demonstrate your model's robustness across a range of operating conditions and balanced faults.

Assumption

Table 22 is unclear on what initial reactive power tests shold be included as part of Table 22. It only states that tests 206-225 are required. We assumed that Q = 0 MVAr operating condition tests are required for Table 22 DMAT and Qmax/Qmin operating condition tests are only required for Full DMAT. Additionally, we have assumed Q = ±0.3 MVAr for Qmax/Qmin in accordance with the comment, "In absence of specific levels, +0.3pu and -0.3pu could be used".

Table 17 (Tests 226 - 229): Source energy changes

The purpose of Table 17 is to demonstrate your model's ability to consider source energy changes.

The requirement methodology is unclear for Tests 228 and 229 where the description requires a change in source energy "from reduced output levels". There are two alternative interpretations which are detailed below. We have assumed Methodology 1 by default. However, Methodology 2 is simpler and may be required for some OEM PSS®E models which are not capable of initializing at a source energy which is different from the associated Pref value.

Methodology 1 [Default]
Methodology 2

Test 228: The initial source energy chosen to represent "from reduced output levels" is 40% with a +20% step to 60%. This methodology tests both that Ppoc is initially being limited to ≈0.4 p.u. even though Pref is 0.5 p.u. and that the Ppoc only rises to 0.5 p.u. even though the source energy available rises above the Pref value.

Test 229: The initial source energy chosen to represent "from reduced output levels" is 60% with a -20% step to 40%. This methodology tests both that Ppoc is only 0.5 p.u. despite source energy available beyond the Pref value of 0.5 p.u. and that Ppoc is being limited to ≈0.4 p.u. even though Pref is 0.5 p.u.

Section 3.3: IBR - LVRT/HVRT studies

Vgrid steps showing LVRT/HVRT transition bands isn't currently in this template. If required, use the S5.2.5.5 LVRT/HVRT transition band tests from the NER Chapter 5 Typical Generator Performance Standards (GPS) template.

Section 3.4: IBR - Grid voltage changes at reduced source energy

Figure 3 (Vgrid steps) at reduced source energy isn't currently in this template. If required, duplicate 'Table 8 (Tests 155 - 160): Vgrid steps' in this template and modify the Loop Variables as required.

Section 3.5: IBR - Minimum SCR verification

Verification of minimum declared SCR isn't in this template. We have assumed this has been superseded by SSIAG requirements. See the System Strength Impact Assessment Guidelines (SSIAG) template.

Section 3.6: Synchronous machines

The purpose of Section 3.6 is to demonstrate your model's excitation limiters. In the absence of explicit test numbers for this section, we have created the following test numbers:

Choosing initial Qpoc values for Case study 1 and Case study 2

Choose initial Qpoc values for Case study 1 which correspond to the following operating conditions:

Qpoc "starting from within the generator’s capability curve...[where] the final settling value [from a -5% Vref step] should be just within the UEL and should not enter into any limiter, including the UEL". The default value is -0.05 [p.u.].
Qpoc "starting from within the generator’s capability curve...[where] the final settling value [from a +5% Vref step] should be just within the OEL and should not enter into any limiter, including the OEL". The default value is +0.05 [p.u.].

The values should be chosen based on the generating system capability curve and excitation limiter configuration. These values should be inserted into column l_qcmd in Loop: Start Node 1792.

Choose initial Qpoc values for Case study 2 which correspond to the following operating conditions:

Qpoc starting from within the UEL where a -/+5% Vref step "engages and disengages the limiter action". The default value is -0.2 [p.u.].
Qpoc starting from within the OEL where a +/-5% Vref step "engages and disengages the limiter action". The default value is +0.2 [p.u.].

The values should be chosen based on the generating system capability curve and excitation limiter configuration. These values should be inserted into column l_qcmd in Loop: Start Node 1781.

Choosing Pmin values for Case study 1 and Case study 2

Choose Pmin values corresponding to the generating system minimum operating limit. These values should be inserted into column l_pcmd in Loop: Start Node 1792 and Loop: Start Node 1781. The default value is 0.05 [p.u.] to be consistent with the remainder of the template even though this is most likely incorrect for synchronous machines.

Assumption

Case study 1: By assuming that the Qpoc values for "5% step in Vref starting from within the Under-excitation limiter (UEL)" and "The final settling value should be just within the UEL and should not enter into any limiter" are the same, we can complete a ±5% Vref step in a single dynamic simulation and reduce the Loop: Start Node configuration requirements. This methodology choice also maintains consistency with the methodology in Case study 2.