The Flexibility Research Service has published a report on New Markets for Flexibility from Grid Forming Capabilities, including information on the below:
- The electricity system must maintain a constant balance between generation and demand. Electricity system operators benefit from the inertia which has traditionally been provided by large fossil fuel generators (e.g. coal and gas) to slow the impact of sudden imbalances.
- Due to carbon targets, these generators are being phased out and replaced by renewable generation. This is reducing system inertia from rotating turbines, increasing the impact on frequency of any imbalance. Existing installations are Grid Following Inverters.
- In the coming years, electricity systems will require additional services to mitigate the loss of inertia. This will include faster-acting frequency response, physical inertia, and synthetic inertia from Grid Forming Inverters.
- Defining Grid Forming Capabilities is an essential first step to developing new technology-neutral markets. The EU risks being left behind as Great Britain, the USA and Australia make progress towards defining and implementing a standard.
