UK energy sector breakthrough as grid stability continuously measured

The UK energy sector has seen a major breakthrough as a project has, for the first time, continuously measured and monitored grid stability across a network. National Grid and Reactive […]

The UK energy sector has seen a major breakthrough as a project has, for the first time, continuously measured and monitored grid stability across a network.

National Grid and Reactive Technologies have completed Project SIM, which included a real-time monitoring of inertia using the latter firm’s GridMetrix solution.

System inertia is a measure of the energy network’s resilience to some types of disturbances on the power system, such as the sudden disconnection of a large power station due to a fault.

According to Reactive Technologies, there was no known way of taking a continuous direct measurement of grid stability so it has always been estimated.

Grid operators use the estimates for trading energy, setting budgets for energy reserve services and long term investments in grid infrastructure.

The real-time monitoring of inertia enables grid operators to respond more quickly to variations in supply and demand, offering the possibility of cutting costs and bills for consumers.

For National Grid and transmission system operators, measuring inertia continuously will provide their control room operators with real-time information that would allow them to react much faster to changes on the grid.

Duncan Burt, Acting Director of System Operations at National Grid said: “National Grid is proud to be at the forefront of the energy revolution as we enable the uptake of renewable generation and deliver value for our customers and consumers.

“Being part of this innovative project to continuously measure inertia will improve our understanding of how to monitor grid stability in a changing energy environment.”

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