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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_SPT_1308
Title	Dynamic Assessment of Wind Generation Synthetic Inertia Contribution to the GB Power System
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 50%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given SP Energy Networks
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 October 2013
End Date	01 October 2015
Duration	24 months
Total Grant Value	£85,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	Scotland
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SPT_1308
Objectives	The objectives of the work is as follows: Investigate the potential contribution of wind farms to the GB system inertia focusing on the first-order inertial behaviour (i.e. first swing stability of conventional synchronous machines) Assess wind farms’ potential contribution to frequency stability Detailed modelling of wind turbines (mechanical, power electronics and control systems) to examine the implications on the turbines themselves when providing synthetic inertia. This project will be deemed successful if the system stability is increased with the use of synthetic inertia, and as a result remains reliable.
Abstract	There is concern over the future stability of power systems as they incorporate reducing amounts of conventional synchronous machines and increasing quantities of wind farms. As a result there is an increased interest in the provision of synthetic inertia from wind power plants to introduce more stability to the system. There are two main situations where the stability of the system could be improved by synthetic inertia: Firstly, during a major loss of generation or interconnection capacity Secondly, during a short-circuit fault on the system. In this case the fault results in an acceleration, usually limited by the inertia of a rotating plant, due to the reduced active power demand on generators in the vicinity of the fault. In particular in longitudinal power systems of in the long transmission lines between areas with concentrated generation and loads, such as the GB’s North-South interconnectors. Clearly, operation of wind generation on the power system will impact on the first swing stability of conventional synchronous machines following a network short circuit fault. However, the timescales for response to allow effective action to be taken in time to affect the first swing stability are challenging, with detection of a fault event within 10/20 ms, followed by initiation of response from the wind capacity within 60-80ms. In the two cases outlined in the section above, synthetic inertia could improve the system as following: In the first case an inertial response from a converter-interfaced energy source, in the form of a temporarily increased real power contribution, would be desirable following the detection of a significant drop in the system frequency and/or increase the rate of change of frequency In the second case some form of response from wind farms (either through reducing/ceasing to supply power, or ideally, by sinking power from the accelerating system) is desirable. In addition careful modelling of the power system, turbines, inverters and their control, could provide a good guide as to what can be expected from the wind plant, but the more difficult engineering challenge is the provision of a robust and reliably fast fault detection system.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	09/08/18