Day 1, 2:45pm, 30 mins

Grid Codes with respect to

Distributed Generation

Project: Analysis of Indian distribution systems for the integration of high shares of rooftop PV
INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN THE INDIAN ELECTRICITY SYSTEM (I-RE)

Final Workshop, 29 August 2017

Dr. Thomas Ackermann
Dr.-Ing. Eckehard Tröster
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
EXAMPLE: DEVELOPMENT IN GERMANY

Source: 50Hertz Source: 50Hertz Source: 50Hertz

around 30.000 plants around 220.000 plants around 1.500.000 plants

2000 2006 2014

Wind Photovoltaics Biomass

Unbundling of power systems and increasing shares of

decentralized generation are major drivers of grid code
development.

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The 50.2 HZ Problem in Germany:
Several thousand megawatts of installed renewable
capacity disconnect at unfavorable frequency thresholds

Germany
53.0
Frequency threshold for disconnection

52.0
51.5
Reasons
51.0
• Underestimation of DG
50.5
50.3 development
50.2
49.7
• Slow grid code updating
49.5
• Missing coordination
49.0
48.0 between DSOs and TSOs
47.5
47.0

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 as of end 2010

MW
Biogas Photovoltaic
Source:
Wind power Small hydro power (1-10 MW)
EEG-registry of TSOs (1997-2008) and
Small hydro power (<1 MW) Combined Heat & Power
Federal Netzwork Agency (2009-2010)
COMPARISION EU - INDIA

Total Net Generation 2040

today
2022
Continental EU India
2016

2612 TWh 1231 TWh 2371 TWh* 4773 TWh*

Share of generation by Wind + PV

Continental EU today
India 2016 2022 2040

12.42% about 5% 12.2%** 25% **

* Government Ambitious Scenario

* excl. CSP

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BACKGROUND:
IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES

Each of these challenges comes with its own set of technical issues for system
planning and operation:
• Variable availability must be incorporated into system adequacy, dispatch and
scheduling, as well as short-time balancing and reserve provision schemes.
• Distributed generation includes generator facilities of widely varying scales
(power ratings), where also different services are necessary, useful and feasible.
• Power converter control schemes need to incorporate response characteristics to
voltage and frequency changes, similar to the inherent characteristics of
synchronous machines.
The technical solutions for these issues require research, development, and
implementation. The resulting costs should be optimized, and the distribution of
costs should be agreed on between generator manufacturers, generator owners, and
system operators.

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THE MAIN SYSTEM CHALLENGE:
HIGH INSTANTANIOUS PEAK PENETRATION

RULE OF THUMB:
Hourly peak penetration can be 4 times higher than annual
average penetration

Example Germany India:

today 2022
Estimated Hourly Regional hourly
Average Wind+PV Peak Hourly Wind+PV
Peak Penetration Peak Penetration
Penetration Penetration
from Wind+PV will reach 100%

18,5 % Around 70 % 40-50 % Around 70 %

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CLEAR RULES TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES

The technical challenges of VRE integration do not only require technical solutions,
but also have operational, economic, and regulatory implications.
Grid codes exist for systems with and without VRE. In case of systems with VRE, the grid codes
provide the rules within which the VRE challenges are addressed. Due to the scope of the
implications, grid codes also cover a wide range of aspects. These are often divided as follows:
• Market Codes govern the rules of the power market, connecting market operation and the
technical needs and constraints of system operation.
• Planning Codes lay out the principles of network planning and the network-relevant aspects
of generator (connection) planning.
• Connection Codes specify minimum technical requirements for generators to be connected
to the power system. Connection codes may also cover, or exist for, other actors such as
demand control facilities, storage, HVDC, etc.
• Operating Codes describe operational procedures and requirements concerning data
exchange and scheduling, response to operational disturbances, and behaviour in
emergency situations.

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CLEAR RULES TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES

Hence, different types of

grid codes facilitate the
increasing operational
flexibility required and
offered by increasing VRE
generation with the needs
of operational stability,
security and quality of
supply, and well-functioning
wholesale markets.

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GRID CONNECTION CODES

The function of a grid connection code is to provide clear rules and technical
requirements for generator facilities when connecting to an electricity system.

The technical requirements in grid connection codes are determined by the need to enable a
sustainable growth of VRE and to maintain the reliability, security, and quality of the power
supply:
• The electrical power needs of all consumers must be met reliably;
• Voltage and frequency must be maintained within set limits to avoid damaging equipment
connected to the grid;
• The system must be able to recover quickly from system disturbances;
• At all times the system must operate without endangering the public or operating personnel. 9
 GRID CONNECTION CODES

By applying at the boundary between power system and generator facility, technical
requirements in grid connection codes affect different stakeholders in unbundled
power systems: technology suppliers (generator manufacturers), investors (generator
owners), system operators, and often also regulators.
Grid codes are a means to achieve fair and transparent treatment of these system
actors and enable efficient coordination.

Conventional Renewable /
Generator Decentralized
Operators Generator Operators

Generator
Manufacturers Policymakers
/ Legislators

Distribution Grid
Grid Owners Operators
Transmission
Grid Owners

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UNBUNDLING AND THE NEED TO
COORDINATE SYSTEM ACTORS

Traditional power system

• Centralized generation
• Utility owns grid and
generators
• Internal rules and
requirements

Unbundled power system

• Decentralized generation
• Separated ownership
• Need for grid code
governance

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ADEQUATELY STRICT REQUIREMENTS

Requirements too stringent: No VRE are installed (cost!)

Requirements too lenient: System security may be compromised.

Grid codes are a major driver of technology development as manufacturers

have to adjust to new requirements…

… but a bad grid code can also be a major show stopper!

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DETERMINING TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The process of determining the requirements involves studies investigating the needs of the
power system. Requirements must consider the capabilities of available generator systems in
order not to hinder the process of VRE adoption.
The following studies are usually needed:
• Load flow study to investigate the needed reactive power capabilities of generators,
consulting manufacturers to identify the capabilities of existing products and evaluate
potential cost of extended capabilities,
• Static and dynamic short circuit studies for evaluating protection and LVRT requirements,
• Load frequency control studies for reserve requirements and gradient limitations, ideally
including frequency stability study.

This list only includes studies in the context of VRE grid code parameterization and
should be added to the studies that need to be performed for system planning and
operation purposes.

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TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS,
AND WHEN ARE THEY NEEDED?

The most important driver for necessity of certain technical requirements for VRE
generators is the VRE share in the power system:
Fully-Fledged Frequency Control
Fully-Fledged Voltage Control
Synthetic Inertia

high
Operating Reserves
Active Power Gradient Limitation

VRE Share
Simulation Models
Active Power Management
Communication
Low Voltage Ride Through
Reactive Power Capability
Power Reduction at Overfrequency

low
Protection
Power Quality
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LIMIT INVERTER SIZE / CURTAILMENT

Reduce worst feed-in peaks with very little loss of energy.

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REQUIREMENT EXAMPLE: LVRT

LVRT requirements from different grid codes

In fault cases that cause a voltage drop, such as short circuits, VRE must
support the grid for a certain time without disconnecting.
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MAKING USE OF VRE GENERATOR CAPABILITIES

VRE connection codes govern only the minimum technical capabilities VRE generators must
provide. Many requirements directly satisfy some operational necessity. However, certain
requirements have a connection to higher-level use cases. The scale to which extent these
capabilities are actually used depends on the scope of the requirement, which in some cases
involves legislation, regulation, and market design:
• System balance and frequency control is usually procured by the TSO through reserve
power markets. This use case relates to remote controllability of power control mode and
set-point, which is typically enforced on the grid code level for all relevant generators.
• Reactive power and voltage control may be obtained by a reactive power market or directly
by voltage control requirements in the grid code. Grid Codes usually require the availability
of reactive power control modes, and a remote control interface.
• Active power control may be required by the grid code, actual participation of VRE in
congestion management is often subject to renewable energy law.

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 ANCILLARY SERVICE OPTIONS (WIND+PV)

Active Power Control:

• Balance Control
• Delta Control
• Power limiter
• Automatic frequency
control

Reactive Power Control:

• Reactive power
Control
• Automatic voltage
control

Fault Ride Through

Inertia Supply
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PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTROL WITH PV

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PV START/STOP CONTROL

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Solar Eclipse in Germany on 20th March 2015

• In the traditional generation mix with fossil fuels, solar eclipses were not a big deal for power
system operators
• This changed with the increasing share of solar generation: An eclipse takes away huge
amounts of potentially produced electricity out of the system, within seconds
• The 20 March 2015 solar eclipse was thus first of its kind event: a true stress test, passed
successfully

Figure: Progression of the solar eclipse in South-Bavaria, Germany. Source: „Animation partielle sonnenfinsternis“ von Sgbeer -
Eigenes Werk. Lizenziert unter CC-BY-SA 4.0 über Wikimedia Commons

Source : The successful stress test of Europe’s power grid – more ahead, own diagram, last downloaded on 28.09.2015 21
Solar Eclipse on 20th March 2015 –
Eclipse Impact: Dropdown in GW

Figure: Continental Europe installed PV capacity in GW (IC) and estimated eclipse impact ( x GW drop)

Source: The successful stress test of Europe’s power grid – more ahead, Solar Power Europe, ENTSO-E, own diagram, last downloaded on 28.09.2015 22
 Aggregated PV Feed-In during Solar Eclipse

This slope is considered

“extreme“ today, but with
80% of VRES this situation
may be considered “normal“

Figure: Aggregated PV feed-in from a subset of European TSOs.

Source: The successful stress test of Europe’s power grid – more ahead, Solar Power Europe, ENTSO-E, own diagram, last downloaded on 28.09.2015 23
CERTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
OF TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Enforcing technical requirements in VRE grid codes require mechanisms for

verification of compliance with the codes. There are different strategies with
differing costs and degrees of feasibility depending on the country context.
These mechanisms include, for example:
• On-site inspections,
• Use of certification systems,
• Verification of plants instead of units,
• Requiring manufacturer statements of conformance,
• Post-disturbance evaluation of system event recordings and revocation of grid access if non-
compliance with grid code requirements is identified for a generator.

An effective and reliable certification system may come with the highest level of trust per
required effort. However, it is infeasible for small system regulations due to significant
organizational overhead.
Harmonization of requirements and resource sharing between countries can make it feasible!

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COMPLIANCE TESTING

On-site measurements are

costly and complicated

Compliance mechanisms and

certificates can be
a) Adapted from larger countries
b) Set up regionally, bundling
resources 25
GRID CODE UPGRADE PROCESS

All stakeholders involved in grid

code issues should take part in the
consultation:
• Policy makers
• generator owners/operators
• network operators
• regulators
• Generator and grid asset
manufacturers
• Depending on scope:
consumers

A predictable and reliable revision

process is important for network
and generator planning!

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GERMAN GRID CODE IN INDIA:
INDIA CAN BENEFIT FROM THE LESSONS
LEARNED IN GERMANY

Installations found in Bhopal and

Delhi.

• Power factor can be varied between 0.8

lagging and 0.8 leading

• VDE-AR-N 4105 is the German low

voltage grid connection code

Due to Germany being the world leader in rooftop PV for years, many inverters available on
the market are compliant with the German distribution grid codes!

The current German grid codes have been revised multiple times. Germany has some of the most
advanced requirements in the world for units connected to LV and MV level.

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CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations for stakeholders:

• Harmonize requirements and share resources! This makes it easier to use
certification systems for verification, and reduces the cost of market access for
generator manufacturers.
• Design a predictable and reliable grid code revision process! This increases
reliability and security by coordinating system change with technical
development, and makes system planning significantly easier.
• Consult with all relevant stakeholders! VRE integration targets can be reached
more easily without sacrificing system security and reliability when the burden of
changes is shared fairly between all involved parties.
• Anticipate requirements of a changed system! When your targets are reached,
the system will work differently than it does today, and has different
requirements. System change might even be faster than you expect!
• Avoid the mistakes from other countries! Communicate, identify best practices,
and consider experiences made by others. Considering that a lot of progress has
been made in technical development, many capabilities are now available at low
cost that were not available when the pioneering countries started.
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IRENA REPORT

Link:
http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads
/Publications/IRENA_Grid_Codes_2016.pdf

(or google “IRENA Grid Codes”)

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