Design of a System Substituting Today’s Inherent Inertia in the European Continental Synchronous Area

Henning Thiesen, Clemens Jauch and Arne Gloe
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Henning Thiesen: Wind Energy Technology Institute, Center for Sustainable Energy Systems Flensburg, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Flensburg 24943, Germany
Clemens Jauch: Wind Energy Technology Institute, Center for Sustainable Energy Systems Flensburg, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Flensburg 24943, Germany
Arne Gloe: Wind Energy Technology Institute, Center for Sustainable Energy Systems Flensburg, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Flensburg 24943, Germany

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: In alternating current (AC) power systems the power generated by power plants has to match the power drawn by consumers plus the system losses at any time. In the case of an imbalance between generation and consumption the frequency in the system deviates from its rated value. In order to avoid an unsuitable frequency, control power plants have to step in to level out this imbalance. Control power plants need time to adjust their power, which is why the inertial behaviour of today’s AC systems is crucial for frequency control. In this paper it is discussed that the inertia in the European Continental Synchronous Area decreases due to the transition to renewable energy sources. This will become a problem for frequency control, which is why the provision of non-inherent inertia is proposed. This system consists of fast-responding energy storage. Its dimensions in terms of power and energy are determined. Since such non-inherent inertia requires investments a cost-efficient solution has to be found. Different technologies are compared in terms of the newly-introduced levelised cost of inertia. This paper concludes with the proposal that in future inertia should be traded and with the recommendation to use flywheels for this purpose, as these are the most cost-efficient solution for this task.

Keywords: energy storage systems; power system frequency control; power system stability; synthetic inertia; system inertia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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