On disturbance propagation and wide-area damping control of power systems with grid-forming converters

Disturbances such as power imbalances or faults propagate in the form of power-frequency waves, traditionally shaped by network characteristics and synchronous machine dynamics. With increasing penetration of inverter-based resources, the dynamics of wave propagation is fundamentally altered. The work examines how grid-forming converters can affect the synchronization process by creating discontinuities that affect wave reflection, attenuation, and oscillatory behaviour. Building on this framework, the role of wide-area damping control as a complementary communication-based synchronization mechanism is explored and discussed. Numerical experiments illustrate the impact of grid-forming placement and coordination on disturbance dynamics, highlighting differences between different possible cases. The results confirm that, while grid-forming converters reshape propagation mechanisms, coordinated wide-area control can significantly support the synchronization between the oscillating elements of the system.