Grid Forming Inverter as an Advanced Smart Inverter for Augmented Ancillary Services in a Low Inertia and a Weak Grid System Towards Grid Modernization

Shriram S. Rangarajan (), E. Randolph Collins and Tomonobu Senjyu
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Shriram S. Rangarajan: Landrotics Solutions Private Limited, Coimbatore 641016, India
E. Randolph Collins: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Tomonobu Senjyu: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0129, Japan

Clean Technol., 2024, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: Grid dynamics and control mechanisms have improved as smart grids have used more inverter-based renewable energy resources (IBRs). Modern converter technologies try to improve converters’ capacities to compensate for grid assistance, but their inertia still makes them heavily dependent on synchronous generators (SGs). Grid-following (GFL) converters ensure grid reliability. As RES penetration increases, the GFL converter efficiency falls, limiting integration and causing stability difficulties in low-inertia systems. A full review of grid converter technologies, grid codes, and controller mechanisms is needed to determine the current and future needs. A more advanced converter is needed for integration with more renewable energy sources (RESs) and to support weak grids without SGs and with low inertia. Grid-forming (GFM) inverters could change the electrical business by addressing these difficulties. GFM technology is used in hybrid, solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESSs), and wind energy systems to improve these energy systems and grid stability. GFM inverters based on BESSs are becoming important internationally. Research on GFM controllers is new, but the early results suggest they could boost the power grid’s efficiency. GFM inverters, sophisticated smart inverters, help maintain a reliable grid, energy storage, and renewable power generation. Although papers in the literature have compared GFM and GFL, none of them have examined them in terms of their performance in a low-SCR system. This paper shows how GFM outperforms GFL in low-inertia and weak grid systems in the form of a review. In addition, a suitable comparison of the results considering the performance of GFM and GFL in a system with varying SCRs has been depicted in the form of simulation using PSCAD/EMTDC for the first time.

Keywords: renewable energy; battery storage; grid-following converters; grid-forming converters; smart inverter; ancillary services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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