The Role of Fast Frequency Response of Energy Storage Systems and Renewables for Ensuring Frequency Stability in Future Low-Inertia Power Systems

Pablo González-Inostroza, Claudia Rahmann, Ricardo Álvarez, Jannik Haas, Wolfgang Nowak and Christian Rehtanz
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Pablo González-Inostroza: Energy Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Claudia Rahmann: Energy Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Ricardo Álvarez: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Santiago 8940000, Chile
Jannik Haas: Department of Stochastic Simulation and Safety Research for Hydrosystems (IWS/SC SimTech), University of Stuttgart, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany
Wolfgang Nowak: Department of Stochastic Simulation and Safety Research for Hydrosystems (IWS/SC SimTech), University of Stuttgart, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany
Christian Rehtanz: Institute of Energy Systems, Energy Efficiency and Energy Economics (ie3), TU Dortmund University, 44135 Dortmund, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Renewable generation technologies are rapidly penetrating electrical power systems, which challenge frequency stability, especially in power systems with low inertia. To prevent future instabilities, this issue should already be addressed in the planning stage of the power systems. With this purpose, this paper presents a generation expansion planning tool that incorporates a set of frequency stability constraints along with the capability of renewable technologies and batteries to support system frequency stability during major power imbalances. We study how the investment decisions change depending on (i) which technology—batteries, renewable or conventional generation—support system frequency stability, (ii) the available levels of system inertia, and (iii) the modeling detail of reserve allocation (system-wide versus zone-specific). Our results for a case study of Chile’s system in the year 2050 show that including fast frequency response from converter-based technologies will be mandatory to achieve a secure operation in power systems dominated by renewable generation. When batteries offer the service, the total investment sizes are only slightly impacted. More precise spatial modeling of the reserves primarily affects the location of the investments as well as the reserve provider. These findings are relevant to energy policy makers, energy planners, and energy companies.

Keywords: renewable energies; energy storage systems; frequency stability; power system planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5656-:d:557184

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