Grid Code Compliance
To ensure the real-time stability of the electricity transmission and grid, Transmission System Operators (TSO’s) define clear requirements in national or regional Grid Codes. These codes outline how Generating Units (GU’s) must respond to deviations in grid frequency to help maintain the power balance and prevent interruptions or system failures.
Especially with the introduction of an increasing capacity of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, the grid’s need for reliable primary frequency response has become more critical than ever. As part of the commissioning process, new power plants must demonstrate their ability to deliver a defined power response to frequency deviations, in accordance with the applicable grid code requirements. In addition to complying with the grid code, today’s energy systems also operate within a liberalized market for the Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR), where they are encouraged to contribute more to grid stability than the minimum requirements set by the grid code.
In the past FCR was supplied only by large power plants. As their share in the total supply to the grid is expected to decrease further at the expense of the vast growing number of, in general low capacity and often intermittently operating, renewable power sources, it becomes more and more important to introduce a form of FCR also for this class of resources.
Frequency Response Testing
Typically, the frequency response is tested by applying an artificial step change in frequency within the plant’s droop controller. The plant must respond by increasing its net power output by a specified percentage within a certain timeframe.
CerTa Veritas offers high-resolution frequency response measurement services using a proprietary fast data acquisition system, developed in-house for precision and reliability. Our system captures key performance parameters at a high sampling rate, including:
Grid frequency
Trigger signals
Net and gross power output
Key control system signals
From the measured data, we calculate the droop, the ratio of relative frequency and relative power output change, and determine the response time to reach a certain percentage of the required resulting change in power output.
Our independent testing ensures that your power plant meets grid code compliance requirements, supports seamless grid integration, and enhances operational readiness for commercial operation.