Who should attend

This course is designed for:

• Power system and renewable energy engineers who need EMT level skills for grid connection and GPS studies in PSCAD.
• Developers and project engineers working on wind, solar, and storage projects who want to understand the regulatory and technical requirements for NEM grid connection.
• Consultants and service providers involved in connection applications, GPS compliance assessments, or model validation using PSCAD.
• Utility, AEMO, and network service provider staff who review or specify PSCAD based EMT studies and DMAT tests.
• Early career professionals, graduate engineers, and postgraduate students seeking hands-on expertise with PSCAD to strengthen their career prospects in inverter dominated power systems and renewable grid integration.

What you will learn

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Confidently use PSCAD’s interface, components, and EMT workflow for inverter based grid studies.
• Understand DC–AC conversion principles and relate single phase and three phase converter topologies to practical VSC models.
• Build and validate grid connected voltage source converter models in PSCAD for wind, solar, and storage applications.
• Compare grid following and grid forming operation and test droop and VSG style control responses in time domain EMT simulations.
• Design PSCAD studies that address the eight PSCAD related NER clauses in AEMO’s Connection Application Checklist and interpret the results for GPS compliance.
• Understand how EMT and RMS models are assessed under AEMO’s Dynamic Model Acceptance Test guideline and how this links to GPS studies.
• Communicate EMT study results clearly to developers, consultants, and NSPs, supporting connection applications and technical negotiations.
• Strengthen career prospects by gaining specialised EMT and PSCAD skills that are increasingly required for renewable grid integration work in the NEM.

Program structure

Pre-course optional workshop: PSCAD basics

(Recommended for participants with no or limited PSCAD experience.)

• Introduction to PSCAD and its role in grid connection and GPS studies.
• Navigating the PSCAD interface, project workspace, libraries, and toolbars.
• Building and running a simple AC network case, including sources, transformer, lines, and meters.
• Plotting results, using control panels and simple I/O elements, and exporting data to tools such as MATLAB.
• Guided warm-up exercises, including a simple network model and a basic VSC topology in PSCAD.

Day 1: DC–AC Converter Fundamentals:

• Role of voltage source converters in renewable grid integration.
• Review of single phase and three phase DC–AC topologies.
• Phase shift modulation and pulse width modulation concepts.
• Learn about half bridge, full bridge, and three phase converter models.

Day 2: Applications of DC/AC Converters:

• Modelling STATCOMs and active filters for voltage support and power quality.
• EMT models of wind and solar grid connected converters in PSCAD.
• Voltage control with VSCs in weak networks.
• Introduction to grid forming inverters and their control in PSCAD.

Day 3: PSCAD NER Clauses – Part 1:

• Overview of Generator Performance Standards and AEMO’s Connection Application Checklist.
• EMT studies for S5.2.5.13 and S5.2.5.14 (voltage and reactive power control, active power control).
• EMT assessment of response to frequency disturbances under S5.2.5.3.
• EMT assessment of response to voltage disturbances under S5.2.5.4.
• Reading PSCAD waveforms and linking results to clause specific performance measures.

Day 4: PSCAD NER Clauses – Part 2:

• Short circuit ratio concepts and their impact on inverter performance.
• EMT studies for S5.2.5.5 and S5.2.5.8 (response to disturbances, protection systems).
• EMT assessment of frequency control under S5.2.5.11.
• Impact on network capability under S5.2.5.12 and related network studies.

Day 5: Dynamic Model Acceptance Test (DMAT) Guideline:

• Overview of AEMO’s Dynamic Model Acceptance Test guideline and process.
• Model acceptance principles for EMT and RMS models.
• Example DMAT style tests using PSCAD.
• Interpreting DMAT outcomes and preparing models and documentation for submission.
• Summary and wrap up, linking DMAT, GPS clauses, and PSCAD studies into a complete grid connection workflow.

Testimonials

Detailed lecture-style theory sessions followed with hands-on PSCAD application sessions were quite helpful to better understand some of the key concepts such as PLL, DQ current control, grid-forming inverters, response to disturbances following contingency events, and etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to use my own device?

You will need to use your own PSCAD compatible device. Please be aware that PSCAD is only compatible on the WINDOWS operating system. We also strongly recommend using a mouse with your device.

2. What if I do not have a PSCAD compatible device/or any device?

If you do not have a PSCAD-compatible device, we have a limited number of PSCAD-compatible devices, with PSCAD pre-installed, that we can make them available remotely so you can access them with AnyDesk for the duration of the course for a small fee. Please send an enquiry email to behrooz.bahrani@monash.edu, only after registering if you should require one. Please understand that we need time to organise and coordinate these, so any fee paid for a loan device will be non-refundable should you change your mind.

3. Will PSCAD licenses be provided?

We will be providing PSCAD educational licenses for the duration of the course. These, along with download instructions, shall be providing closer to the course commencement date. With these you will be able to download PSCAD to your device. We strongly recommend that you download PSCAD before the commencement of the course, to avoid any potential delays and overcome any troubleshooting that may be required.

4. What payment methods are available?

You can pay by credit card via the registration link on the website. If you cannot pay by card, we can arrange payment via invoice and bank transfer. Invoice generation typically takes up to 5 business days. To request an invoice, please send us your name, email, billing address, and attendance type (online or in-person).