Impact of Low Rotational Inertia on Power System Stability and Operation

1

Impact of Low Rotational Inertia on

Power System Stability and Operation

1

Impact of Low Rotational Inertia on

Power System Stability and Operation

Andreas Ulbig, Theodor S. Borsche and Göran Andersson

Power Systems Laboratory, ETH Zurich

ulbig

j

borsche

j

andersson @ eeh.ee.ethz.ch

Abstract

Large-scale deployment of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) has led to significant generation shares of variable

RES in power systems worldwide. RES units, notably inverter-connected wind turbines and photovoltaics (PV) that as

such do not provide rotational inertia, are effectively displacing conventional generators and their rotating machinery.

The traditional assumption that grid inertia is sufficiently high with only small variations over time is thus not valid

for power systems with high RES shares. This has implications for frequency dynamics and power system stability

and operation. Frequency dynamics are faster in power systems with low rotational inertia, making frequency control

and power system operation more challenging.

This paper investigates the impact of low rotational inertia on power system stability and operation, contributes

new analysis insights and offers mitigation options for low inertia impacts.

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.6435.pdf