The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation

Energy transition strategies point to energy systems that rely mostly on renewable sources, with photovoltaics being the most commonly used and emphasised. The transition from the past to the future of electrical system is characterised by the contrast between centralised and distributed generation,...

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Main Authors: Giuseppe Marco Tina, Giovanni Maione, Domenico Stefanelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5827
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author Giuseppe Marco Tina
Giovanni Maione
Domenico Stefanelli
author_facet Giuseppe Marco Tina
Giovanni Maione
Domenico Stefanelli
author_sort Giuseppe Marco Tina
collection DOAJ
description Energy transition strategies point to energy systems that rely mostly on renewable sources, with photovoltaics being the most commonly used and emphasised. The transition from the past to the future of electrical system is characterised by the contrast between centralised and distributed generation, as well as the differences between synchronous machines and static converters and thus by their way to deliver services required for proper system operation, frequency regulation and transient stability. This paper compares the two converter control strategies, grid following and grid forming, for providing frequency regulation service while considering bulk photovoltaic generation at the HV level and MV-connected distributed by PV generation. The analyses reveal the equivalence between large plants and distributed resources for frequency regulation purposes, highlighting the relevance of grid-forming converter and their ability to supply inertia to the system. These results are obtained for the IEEE 14-bus system implemented in Dig Silent PowerFactory.
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spelling doaj-art-0bc704c4384548528d30d326f76c302d2025-08-20T01:55:33ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011723582710.3390/en17235827The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic GenerationGiuseppe Marco Tina0Giovanni Maione1Domenico Stefanelli2Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyEnel Energy and Commodity Management Italia, 00198 Roma, ItalyEnergy transition strategies point to energy systems that rely mostly on renewable sources, with photovoltaics being the most commonly used and emphasised. The transition from the past to the future of electrical system is characterised by the contrast between centralised and distributed generation, as well as the differences between synchronous machines and static converters and thus by their way to deliver services required for proper system operation, frequency regulation and transient stability. This paper compares the two converter control strategies, grid following and grid forming, for providing frequency regulation service while considering bulk photovoltaic generation at the HV level and MV-connected distributed by PV generation. The analyses reveal the equivalence between large plants and distributed resources for frequency regulation purposes, highlighting the relevance of grid-forming converter and their ability to supply inertia to the system. These results are obtained for the IEEE 14-bus system implemented in Dig Silent PowerFactory.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5827frequency regulationdistributed generationgrid-forming inverters
spellingShingle Giuseppe Marco Tina
Giovanni Maione
Domenico Stefanelli
The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
Energies
frequency regulation
distributed generation
grid-forming inverters
title The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
title_full The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
title_fullStr The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
title_short The Impact of Grid-Forming vs. Grid-Following Converters on Frequency Regulation: Comparing Centralised or Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
title_sort impact of grid forming vs grid following converters on frequency regulation comparing centralised or distributed photovoltaic generation
topic frequency regulation
distributed generation
grid-forming inverters
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5827
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