Summary
The performance of grid-forming (GFM) converter solutions, such as battery energy storage system (BESS) and static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) has shown notable advantages over conventional technologies such as synchronous condensers and grid-following power plants. A key distinguishing feature of GFM converters, compared to conventional synchronous machine-based solutions, is the tunability of critical response characteristics in terms of the inertia and damping constants as well as virtual impedance. In contrast, these parameters are primarily dictated by the physical design in traditional synchronous machines, limiting their adaptability. These advantages offer substantial benefits in enhancing system stability and resilience, particularly in the context of increasing renewable energy integration. Through a robust and flexible stabilisation mechanism, GFM converters can create a secure operational environment that facilitates the accelerated transition to a renewable-based power system.
Read more Read lessThis paper describes the structure of a modern GFM control system and how the key elements and control parameters contribute to improved damping performance. Furthermore, the above- mentioned advantages of GFM devices over synchronous condensers (SynCon)s are explained and validated though small-signal analysis as well as time-domain simulation. In a test case based on an actual event in the Danish grid, it is shown that in this specific setting a well-designed GFM STATCOM with standard control tuning provides more than twice the lowfrequency damping contribution relative to an equally rated SynCon. Moreover, the additional energy storage capability present in enhanced static synchronous compensator (E-STATCOM) and BESS provides a further doubling of the damping capability, compared to the STATCOM.
Additional informations
| Publication type | Session Materials |
|---|---|
| Reference | C4_12328_2026 |
| Publication year | |
| Publisher | CIGRE |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Study committees |
|
| File size | 2 MB |
| Price for non member | 30 € |
| Price for member | 30 € |
Authors
LARSSON Mats - Hitachi Energy Switzerland; HEYDARI Rasool - Hitachi Energy Sweden; ZHANG Hongyang - Hitachi Energy Sweden; OWENS Andrew - Hitachi Energy Sweden; LU Liang - Energinet Denmark; LIAO Yicheng - Energinet Denmark; KWON Jun Bum - Energinet Denmark; GONG Hong - Energinet Denmark; QIN Nan - Energinet Denmark; STOECKLI Marcel - ELECTROSUISSE / CIGRE Switzerland NC Secretary
Keywords
grid forming, converter, GFM, BESS, STATCOM, small-signal stability, damping performance, renewable energy integration, synchronous condensers
