Are you yet to submit your application to National Grid ESO for Phase 3? Phase 3 will assess technical and commercial submissions alongside solutions submitted by Network Operators.
What is Network Option Assessment (NOA) Stability Pathfinder Phase 3 focused on?
Phase 3 is focused on increasing inertia and short circuit level in England and Wales. Inertia is the mass of the system used to control frequency, while short circuit level is the amount of current that flows on the system during a fault.
As traditional coal and gas plants are phased out from Britain’s energy system, the transmission system inertia and short circuit levels are falling. Renewable generators like wind and solar connect to the grid in a different way, which doesn’t provide the network the same stabilising properties. So, we need to find new providers to help support the system.
TNEI has been involved in multiple stages of the National Grid ESO Stability Pathfinder, supporting developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) and contractors for feasibility studies, electrical design and grid code compliance studies.
Stability Pathfinder applications – When is the submission deadline for Phase 3 technical feasibility studies?
This year the technical feasibility studies are more precisely defined by NGESO for Phase 3 and the submission deadline is 16 May 2022. Equipment response to the three main types of system events is assessed as below:
- Short-circuit events
- Frequency events
- Voltage angle events
What has to be demonstrated in the application?
Grid forming inverter (GBGF-I) based storage plants or any hybrid plants involving GBGF-I will have to demonstrate technical feasibility via EMT simulations. On the other hand, Synchronous Compensators/Condensers (GBGF-S) are only required to submit RMS simulation results, which is different to last year’s Phase 2 applications.
TNEI has an excellent track record of carrying out several technical feasibility studies for Stability Pathfinder applications using OEM bespoke models.
- Grid Forming Inverters (GBGF-I). Full EMT dynamic studies in PSCAD/EMTDC for BESS plants.
- Synchronous Condensers (GBGF-S). Full EMT and RMS dynamic studies in PSCAD/EMTDC and PowerFactory.
Please contact us for the provision of technical feasibility studies for Stability Pathfinder Phase 3 applications, for all types of technology solutions (synchronous compensators, grid forming inverters or hybrid plants).
Figure 1 – Synchronous machine based plant fault currentresponses to a short-circuit event
Figure 2 – Grid forming inverter based BESS plant fault current response to a short-circuit event
Figure 3 – Grid forming inverter based BESS plant “‘inertial’ response to a frequency event
Figure 4 – Grid forming inverter based BESS plant response to a step change in voltage phase angle
