National Grid ESO has begun using an innovative inertia measurement tool on a commercial basis following the completion of a grid-scale ultracapacitor in Teesside that will be used to send pulses of power through the electricity system.
Reactive Technologies, which developed the Grid Metrix service, compared the pulses to the underwater sound waves used in sonar. Their effect on the frequency of the electricity system will be measured by monitoring units around the grid to establish its inertia.
Inertia refers to the resistance of the electricity system to sudden changes in frequency, for example, following an outage at a power station. It has traditionally been provided by synchronous coal and gas plants with large turbines spinning in harmony with the frequency of the power grid.
The closure of these plants alongside of the growth of asynchronous renewable generation has led to a decline in inertia, meaning the electricity system operator (ESO) can no longer rely on estimates as it has previously done.
The new service will allow National Grid, which was the first ESO to trial the technology, to accurately measure inertia in real time.
“The commercial adoption of Grid Metrix by National Grid is a significant milestone in the journey of our technology from a conceptual innovation to a proven and fundamental grid management solution,” said Reactive Technologies chief executive Marc Borrett.
“The challenges facing Britain on its net zero journey are familiar to grids across the world and with the support of our strategic investors and partners, we are extremely excited to help unlock as many 100% renewable grids around the world as possible, accelerating the global transition to a clean energy system.”
Fintan Slye, executive director of National Grid ESO, said: “Our ambition to be able to operate an electricity system that can deliver periods of 100% zero carbon power by 2025 is a stretching target, but thanks to cutting-edge technologies such as this we’re on track to achieve a significant milestone on that zero carbon journey.
“Decarbonising our grid brings many challenges, but through collaboration and innovation we’ll continue to develop solutions to overcome them and bring about the sustainable energy network we urgently need.”