“Role and requirements for large, inverter based loads” Task Force

	Julia Matevosyan Task Force Convenor		Marta Val Escudero Chair SC C4		Renuka Chatterjee Chair SC C2		Antonio Iliceto Chair SC C1

 

Background

 

The growing electrification of demand in the energy transition is driving the expansion of power electronics interfaced demand, and in particular new types of loads such as electrolysers, mega-chargers for electric vehicles and large data centres. These installations are increasingly influencing the behaviour and dynamics of the overall power system and pose unprecedented challenges to the grid. Today, the planning, connection, operational impact and technical behaviour of these large-scale demand facilities remain poorly scrutinised, as evidenced by recent experiences and perturbations in system operation in some jurisdictions.

 

To ensure an optimal  planning, reliable operation and resilience to perturbations of the power system, it is critical to thoroughly study and comprehend the operational and technical characteristics of such demand facilities and their impact on all aspects related to planning and operation of power systems including, but not restricted to, electric localisation, connection requirements, flexibility provision, reliability, stability, protection, power quality, etc. This understanding is essential for mitigating risks and maintaining operational reliability and stability as the grid evolves to accommodate more power electronics interfaced demand.

 

Aim & Purpose of the Task Force

 

To address these new challenges, Study Committees C4 (Power system technical performance), C2 (Power system operation and control) and C1 (Power system development and economics) have joined forces and created a new Task Force (TF) that will examine all aspects related to large inverter based loads in a holistic manner covering both, Power System’s and Demand Customers’, points of view. The strength of this TF is that it has representatives from both industries to identify and approach all challenges in a co-operative manner understanding each other’s needs and limitations.

 

Scope:

 

The primary objectives of this initiative are to identify critical impacts and gaps in two areas:

 

1. Grid Operation:

 

To pinpoint critical gaps in understanding (including modelling) and managing the operational behaviour of large-scale demand facilities. This includes all areas that could be affected by the specific behaviour and design of these new loads (e.g. fault ride through, power quality, protection, etc.) as well as the potential benefits that these new demand facilities could provide in terms of load modulation / flexibility provision.

 

2. Planning / System Development:

 

To pinpoint critical gaps in understanding and managing large in planning processes, including:

 

• Different needs and constraints between the demand owner and the power system – e.g. specific demand location vs network capacity, co-location with RES, etc.
• Adequacy issues in terms of new generation capacity available and correlated sustainability aspects if the new load cannot be covered entirely by new RES.
• Load profiles with particular attention to daily/weekly/seasonal variations and their drivers, to analyse the potential for modulation of the load profiles to the energy and power conditions of the connected grid: load shifting, peak shaving, storing on site, use of back up on site generation, flexibility provision both as demand response and as active participation at the ancillary services markets.
• Stakeholders arena, business models and how these can impact or be impacted by grid requirements or grid constraints
• Needs for connection codes.

 

The focus will be on large demand facilities that are interfaced with power electronics and have the capacity, on an individual or aggregated basis, to have material impact on the host grid. Attention will also be given to understand the related gaps that these demand facilities experience from TSOs and other entities. These insights will then inform a set of actionable recommendations, forming a comprehensive workplan for CIGRE’s relevant study committees to address these challenges with greater precision and depth through Working Group activities.

 

Team:

 

The Task Force will consist of twelve subject matter experts representing diverse sets of interests from various stakeholders and geographies. The goal is to capture transmission system operator concerns and needs, demand and OEM perspectives on capabilities and limitations.

Deliverables:

 

Within about 6 months from the start of this Task Force (a kick-off meeting is planned in early September), the Task Force will produce a CSE paper summarising their findings and will provide recommendations for the creation of dedicated (J)WGs to address each of the identified gaps in a focused and co-ordinated manner.