Primary objective:
Develop new methods and tools for enabling HVDC interconnectors to improve system stability by delivering inertia support, and by this contributing to future stable and secure operation of the European power systems with an increased share of renewables.
Project summary:
Future power systems are facing new challenges when traditional thermal generation units are replaced by renewable energy sources with power electronic grid interfaces. In central Europe, an increasing share of wind and PV generation is leading to periods with few synchronous generators in operation, and the resulting low equivalent rotating inertia in the grid can introduce stability problems. Scenarios with low inertia, leading to challenges with frequency control and grid stability, are already requiring attention in the transmission networks in UK and Ireland. In the Nordic countries of Europe, low equivalent inertia is expected to produce potential issues within 2025. Different control schemes have been proposed for providing virtual inertia from power electronic converters distributed generation and other low voltage applications. Especially HVDC converters may represent an effective solution for alleviating issues caused by decreasing rotating inertia due to the significant installed power rating. However, identification of the most suitable implementation methods for HVDC converters with different topologies is still an open issue.
This project will develop methods for assessing the value of and the requirements for inertia emulation from HVDC transmission schemes. Furthermore, control strategies suitable for inertia emulation by HVDC converter stations with different power converter topologies will be developed, and their performance and stability characteristics will be analysed. Detailed models of HVDC transmission schemes with inertia emulation capability will also be developed for analysing the influence on the stability of large-scale power systems. The methods and techniques resulting from the research activities within the project will support the development of "smarter transmission systems" in a future context with limited physical inertia from traditional generation plants.
