Minute Lectures

Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A complex system
In Europe, all electrical grids are interconnected

This large international grid is highly complex to control

It differs largely from water, gas, or data networks because

electrical energy in alternating current is not storable

The stability of the electrical grid is maintained by

frequency and voltage control
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

Alternating current is not storable
The only possible ways of storage:
• Transform the alternating current in direct current by power
electronics, and then store the energy in the electric field of a
capacitor or in the magnetic field of a coil
• Transform the electric energy into other forms of energy

None of these options are conceivable on large scale in the

near future

In the long run, storage in hydrogen could contribute to the

management of the electric system
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A double equilibrium (1/2)
Since storage is difficult, two separate equilibriums should
be kept on the grid. Both are the responsibility of the
Transmission System Operator (TSO)
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A double equilibrium (2/2)
A. The active power generated should at each moment equal the
active power consumed. A deviation from this equilibrium results
in a deviation from the 50 Hz frequency. So keeping this
equilibrium between active power consumption and generation
means maintaining frequency

B. The reactive power on the grid should be kept in equilibrium as

well. Reactive power is an extra load for the grid, leaving less
capacity for active power, resulting in a local voltage drop. So
keeping reactive power in equilibrium means maintaining voltage
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A. Frequency control = active power control
Consumption of active power varies strongly according to
the time of the day, the season, or weather conditions

The TSO keeps reserve capacity in power plants at hand

to be able to react quickly and deliver extra power when
necessary (= spinning reserve)

The increasing number of wind turbines make control

even more complex, since their generation output is
difficult to predict
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A. Frequency control = active power control
If necessary, the TSO can ask for extra power from other
countries on the European interconnected grid

Indeed, for this active power equilibrium, the complete

interconnected grid behaves as a whole

The larger the grid, the easier to keep the equilibrium, since
variations in consumption and generation will level out
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

A. Frequency control = active power control
The active power equilibrium of the grid can be represented by an
inflexible sheet with loads (L) pulling it down, and generators (G)
compensating this force pulling the sheet up to keep it in place:
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

B. Voltage control = reactive power control
Reactive power is inextricably related with the active
power, and oscillates between generators, inductive
elements (motors, transformers, electric ovens…) and
capacitive elements (capacitor batteries) on the grid

It doesn’t participate in the energy transmission, but is

nevertheless an extra charge for the grid, resulting in:
• Extra losses on the line
• Less capacity left for the transmission of active energy,
becoming evident by a voltage drop on the line
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

B. Voltage control = reactive power control
Energy users will be stimulated to compensate their
inductive elements by capacitor batteries

The remaining reactive power on the grid will be

compensated by the synchronous generators in power
plants

This compensation should be done as close as possible to

the inductive loads, since reactive power
• Is difficult to transport on the grid
• Leads to extra losses on the lines
• Leads to voltage drops on the lines, limiting their capacity
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

B. Voltage control = reactive power control
The reactive power equilibrium of the grid can be represented by a
flexible sheet (e.g. a sheet of plastic) with reactive loads (QL) pulling
it down, and power stations compensating this force in the
immediate vicinity of the load by generating reactive power (QG),
limiting in this way the tension on the sheet and the risk of
breaking:
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

Round-up
Since electrical energy is not storable on an AC network,
generation should at each moment equal consumption

This equilibrium has to be kept for active power (= actual

energy transmission) as well as for reactive power (= an
oscillation between inductive and capacitive elements)

The active power equilibrium is related with the frequency,

and should be kept for the whole of the interconnected grid

The reactive power equilibrium is related with the voltage on a

line, and should be kept at local level
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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

Links and references
• Michel Crappé, Evolution du système électrique
européen. Les défis pour les ingénieurs, Symposium
“Avenir de l’énergie et énergies de l’avenir”, Brussels,
December 8, 2005

• Leonardo ENERGY Minute Lecture on

Spinning Reserve

• Leonardo ENERGY Minute Lecture on

Reactive Power