# Power Quality Issues and Mitigation for Electric Grids with Wind Power Penetration
## 1 Introduction  
The total electricity consumption in Saudi Arabia will be 90 GW in 2023 which represents more than 45% of the daily oil production. Additionally, the rate of peak demand growth is 7% per year meaning that the domestic consumption of oil for electricity generation will reach 8 million barrel per day by the year 2030 G if the trend consumption continues at this rate [1]. Further, carbon emission reached 28 BSCFD in 2016 due to highly dependent on fossil fuels for electricity generation [2]. As of 2020, the total available generating capacity in the Kingdom is 77.2 GW whereas the peak load reached 62 GW. Such a capacity is transformed through more than 88,731 c.km of transmission lines;90% overhead lines and 10% underground lines. The transmission system in the Saudi Electric Grid includes 1129 transforming substations and more than 3445 transformers. The distribution system includes about 682,920 c.km of distribution lines that delivered more than 279 TWh of energy as follows; 45.8% residential, 16.4% commercial, 17.7% industrial, 14.4% government, and 5.6% for other loads such as agricultural and desalination [3]. Hence, the kingdom launched the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative among its Vision 2030 for empowering renewable energy penetration in the electricity generation. Renewable energy integration in the Saudi electric grid aims to reduce oil dependency, system losses, and improve aging equipment. The Kingdom targets 70% of its power generation from natural gas and 30% from renewable and other sources. In 2020, the Kingdom plans to generate 3.45 GW of renewable energy, 4% of the total consumption, as well as reducing carbon emission to 26 BSCFD [4]. Vision 2023 sets an initial target by generating 9.5 GW of renewable energy by 2023; 5.9 GW solar PV and 2.4 GW wind. The projected renewable energy installation is as flow: 2018: 0.7 GW, 2019: 1.2 GW, 2020: 1.7 GW, 2021: 1.8 GW, 2022: 2.1 GW and 2023: 2.1 GW [5]. Currently, Sakaka solar PV plant of 300 MW capacity started production in the fourth quarter of 2019. The projects are planned to be deployed in 35 different locations across the country. From a wind generation perspective, a 400 MW onshore wind farm has been successfully connected to the grid in Dumat Aljandal, northwestern Saudi Arabia. The project consists of 99 turbines that are rated ~4 MW and generates electricity for about $0.0199/kWh. Another ongoing 850 MW wind power project in Yanbu, western Saudi Arabia is expected to reduce emissions by 8 million tons/year and conserve about 18 million ballers of oil a year [6; 7]. Further, Saudi Aramco has specific various locations for wind turbines. The identified sites of wind turbines meet the requirements of wind generation such as wind speed and flexible access to the electric grid. Figure 1 shows regional sites of wind turbines [8]. The installation of wind power plants that are characterized by an intermittent power source could lead to fluctuations of output power and creates power quality issues to the grid and in turn, affects system reliability and stability [9]. With the huge proliferation of wind energy penetration in the power system, the impact of wind power on power system operation and control has been of great concern. Wind power capacity has grown 7% globally with the installations increasing from 336 GW in June 2014 to 360 GW by the end of 2014 [1]. The rapid growth of wind power penetration has led to greater studies to assess the impact of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) on the grid for a stable and efficient power system operation [2; 4; 5]. The integration of renewable energy resources, like wind, fosters sustainable growth, and minimizes the adverse effects of conventional power plants. In addition to WECSs being a source of clean energy, their contribution towards grid pollution needs to be considered. For integrating  
Figure 1: Regional sites of wind turbines in Saudi Arabia.