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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Synchronous condensers deliver vital inertia for grid stability
11/5/2022
6 min read
The increasing penetration of renewables in power grids is reducing the inertia that is essential for their stable operation. Here, Kristina Carlquist, General Manager – Synchronous Condensers, ABB, explains how synchronous condensers can restore the balance for both urban networks and remote islands.
Centralised architecture has been used across the world’s power grids throughout most of their 100-year-plus history. Based around large fossil fuel power stations in urban centres, it provides a linear path for the electricity to flow over transmission and distribution networks to consumers. This has delivered exceptional stability and security of supply.
However, there is a new imperative to decarbonise power production and integrate large levels of renewable energy – and this is forcing networks to evolve. Our grids will soon look very different.
In addition to grids becoming decentralised, their large fossil fuel plants are now being replaced by renewable energy, usually intermittent wind and solar power. This has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the amount of spinning inertia in the grid, otherwise known as kinetic reserve. Inertia is vital to resist sudden changes, such as when a generator trips offline, so that the grid frequency remains within tightly controlled limits.