Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) Demonstrator

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2018

01 July 2019

ENA months

£456,000

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Project Contact, National Grid plc

This project will implement VSM in a lab environment to test its behaviour. The outline methodology is: Build a simple test network using one big lab convertor (larger than 50 kW) to represent the system and smaller converters to represent VSM and /or current convertor technology. Test the network to validate the behaviour of VSM. Replicate studies performed in PowerFactory to compare results and prove the model for wider system study. The tests could include (but wont be limited to): - voltage step response - loss of generation or load - Islanding - 140ms short circuit performanc - 500ms short circuit performance. Establish a test sequence suitable for future compliance testing of VSM. Two overlapping phases of work will be carried out over eighteen months. Phase 1 will implement and test VSM based on lab converters to prove the concept. Phase 2 will begin in parallel with Phase 1 to build a VSM prototype to study further impacts and possible mitigating strategies. The VSM prototype will then be subjected to the same tests used in Phase 1. The project will test the performance of a lab converter based VSM and a prototype VSM in a lab environment. The tests will compare the performance of VSM to PowerFactory simulations and its ability to address the problems listed in the Problems section. The intention is to prove the concept in hardware and derive network requirements from it. Developing and testing a commercial product for field deployment is not in scope. The expectation is that manufacturers and developers will use the findings of this project and network requirements derived from it to develop and test their own commercial offerings. The objectives of this project are to: Demonstrate a physical implementation of VSM and compare laboratory results to simulations in PowerFactory. Understand any risks or issues in the design and construction of VSM devices. Provide evidence either to support mandatory changes in converter fed generation performance, e.g. through Grid Code and/or Distribution Code modifications, or to support development of balancing service markets to value the abilities of VSM generation. Evidence would include: Required behaviour of converter fed generation to operate as VSM. Quantity or proportion of synchronous and/or VSM generation required at different penetrations of converter fed generation. Required capability of VSM generation depending on the quantity or proportion required.

09/11/22