Very Large Power Grid Operators on how to stabilise global networks
The Association of Very Large Power Grid Operators, GO15, has issued a position paper on their members’ main challenges and the most promising solutions to enhance the stability of global power grids.
As the world’s power grids become increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources and decentralised power generation, power grid operators are forced to grapple with new challenges as they re-examine the concept of grid stability.
The GO15’s position paper comes as the IEA releases its first-of-a-kind global stocktake of efforts to integrate variable renewable energy (VRE) resources across 50 power systems.
The IEA report explores one of the biggest hurdles facing policymakers as the clean energy transition gathers speed.
While the global share of electricity generated by wind and solar resources is expected to rise rapidly over the next few years, if measures to integrate renewables into power grids don’t keep up with power plant creation, renewables will decrease by five percentage points of the global energy mix by 2030.
Delaying the implementation of integration measures could also result in an up to 20% smaller reduction of Co2 emissions in the power sector by 2030.
Very large power grid operators and inertia
In addition to stating their position, the GO15 document also introduces a comprehensive classification of the main phenomena influencing power system stability, examining research directions and promising technologies and methodologies for improving dynamic grid performance in the presence of large-scale adoption of distributed power converter-based generators.
As the GO15 point out, beyond the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources making it difficult for power system operators to match supply and demand, they require the replacement of traditional synchronous generators with converter interface generators (CIGs).
“Because of their large rotating masses, traditional generators provide significant inertia, meaning a system’s ability to resist frequency changes.
“CIGs don’t provide the same level of inertia which can lead to frequency fluctuations and instability, especially during production disturbances or sudden changes in load,” said the GO15 in a press statement on their position paper.
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New solutions and strategies
The GO15 position paper emphasises the need for new solutions and strategies to address the stability issues caused by the rise of CIGs:
The GO15 point out that several countries have already witnessed the negative effects of the rapid growth of solar and wind generators connected to the grid.
This underlines the importance of defining and implementing corrective actions to improve grid flexibility and mitigate their impact on power system stability and security.
“System Operators play a critical role in enabling the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future, which requires proactive strategies, stakeholder collaboration and continuous innovation,” said the GO15.
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The GO15 is the association for the world’s Very Large Power Grid Operators. Top level executives of participating Power Grid Operators sit on the governing steering board. The Current GO15 presidency is held by SR Narasimhan, Grid-India, Chairman and Managing Director. The association members serve more than half of the world’s electricity demand.
Read the GO15’s Position Paper on System Stability and Inertia