Grid-Forming Capabilities:

Towards System Level Integration

31 March 2021

European Network of
Transmission System Operators
for Electricity
About ENTSO-E
ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity,
is the pan-European association of 42 electricity transmission system operators
(TSOs) in 35 countries. In 2009, ENTSO-E was registered in the EU legislation and
has since then been given a series of legal mandates.
Introduction
In support of EU efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,
­ENTSO-E has recently released its vision on the system opera-
tion for 2030 1, supported by its Research, Development & Innova-
tion (RDI) Roadmap. Both documents make the enhancement of
­system stability under the high penetration of non-synchronous
­renewables a high future priority.

As part of the energy transition, a complex cyber physical ­system 2

is emerging, and further innovation and development is r­ equired
by  ENTSO-E RDI Flagships to secure the stable operation of
­widespread hybrid AC-DC networks. Under such conditions, all
market participants must take action to facilitate the stable trans-
formation of the power system. As an integral part of the ­ENTSO-E
RDI Road­map (Flagship 5), and with the aim of meeting the
­system’s needs for 2050, this paper highlights one of the action
lines to ­follow to facilitate the stable operation of interconnected
transmission systems with a high penetration of non-synchronous
power electronic interfaced power generating modules.

1 Available at: https://vision2030.entsoe.eu/

2 See ENTSO-E, The Cyber Physical System for the Energy Transition, 2019.

ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration // 3

Grid-forming capabilities to meet
future system needs
Power system stability challenges have been identified ­under Technologies for providing the set of grid-forming capa-
scenarios with the high penetration of non-­ synchronous bilities in the future could potentially include new modu-
renewable generation, as reported in the Migrate project lar multi level converters (MMC)-HVDC systems, flexible
[ 1 ], as well as in [ 13 – 18 ]. These stability issues are cat- ­alternating current transmission system (FACTS), PPMs and
egorised by frequency, voltage, rotor angle, converter driv- battery storage units. Most of these capabilities are ­already
en and resonance stability [ 2 ]. Recent studies [ 3 – 6 ] have ­provided by synchronous condensers (SCs). It should be
presented “perspectives” and approaches to operating ­noted that all these technologies could contribute together
transmission systems with an extremely high penetration to ensure the required grid-forming capabilities. An ­example
of non-­synchronous power generation modules (converter of a cost – benefit analysis comparing the use of SCs ­versus
based). Such projects have concluded that a stable and ro- the use of PPMs for offering grid-forming capabilities is
bust ­operation of interconnected transmission systems can in the context of the ­Migrate project [ 8 ]. The result of this
be ensured under the high penetration of non-synchronous cost – ­benefit ­analysis reflects the fact that the overall
power generation modules if a certain number of capabili- ­actualized cost over 20 years is within the same order of
ties are ensured during system operation. These capabilities magnitude.
can be provided either by synchronous or non-synchronous
power generation modules [ 7 ]. In [ 3 ], seven capabilities are
introduced, which are termed as grid-forming if fulfilled in
their entirety.

A coordinated effort among European stakeholders to ­define

such grid-forming capabilities for converter based facilities
is initiated in [ 3 ]. It has been identified in this work that a new
or extended class definition of power park modules (PPMs)
and high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations is
required to ensure stable operation with the high penetration
of non-synchronous generation. More specifically, this class
definition offers a set of grid-forming capabilities defined as
follows:

Creating (forming) system voltage.

Contributing to fault level (short circuit power).

 ontributing to total system inertia (limited by

C
energy ­storage capacity and the available
power rating of the PPM or HVDC converter
station).

 upporting system survival to enable the

S
effective ­operation of low frequency demand
disconnection for rare system splits.

 cting as a sink to counter harmonics and

A
inter-­harmonics in system voltage.

 cting as a sink to counter any unbalance in

A
system voltage.

Preventing adverse control system interactions.

4 // ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration

Facilitating the system-level
integration of grid-forming
capabilities

Grid-forming capabilities need to be defined in

­connection network codes (CNCs) to enable harmonised
solutions
CNCs [ 9 ] are the regulatory platform at European level which The set of grid-forming capabilities must be described in the
define the necessary technical capabilities of power gener- CNCs (limited to the current and power ratings of the pow-
ating modules, distribution systems connected to trans- er park modules and HVDC converter stations) to facilitate
mission systems, demand facilities, and HVDC systems the aligned requirements’ availability throughout European
during normal and disturbed system operating conditions, member states, preferably as mandatory non-exhaustive
­including the separate operation of the main synchronous requirements in the CNCs to start and accelerate the pro-
power ­system. CNCs accommodate a system supportive cess of grid-forming implementation. Further specifications
performance of grid users with the purpose of ensuring in national implementations of the CNC requirements may
­system security, especially during exceptional and out-of- ­depend on the location and urgency in each member state
range contingencies. [ 10 ].

Developing sufficient conditions for grid-forming

­capabilities via national level ancillary services
The Clean Energy Package [11] defines the so-called non-­ At the same time, however, the decision whether a market
frequency ancillary services within its articles 2, 31 and 40. is implemented or not, as well as market organisation, is
Although the definition by law includes functionalities such still left to the national regulatory authority. A good exam-
as steady state voltage control, fast reactive current injec- ple of such a procedure is the requirements for primary
tion, inertia for local grid stability, short-circuit current, black control (also called Frequency Sensitive Mode in CNCs).
start capability and island operation capability, the ­provision Although the procurement of primary reserve (known as
of grid-forming capabilities would contribute to all of them frequency containment reserve [FCR]) is achieved through
[ 3 ]. Moreover, the regulatory authority of each member reserve markets, and the prequalification is even handed
state has to decide whether a market-based procurement over to individual transmission system operators (TSOs),
is ­considered economical beneficial or not, with the right to the basic ­requirements for generators can be found in the
suspend such a market on the national level. relevant CNCs, which are harmonised throughout Europe.
The latter also guarantees the availability of the function-
With the aim to harmonise requirements for grid-forming alities associated to primary control in the system, even if
capabilities and not leave them to the national prequalifica- market mechanisms may malfunction in critical situations,
tion procedures (depending on national definition) under the providing a higher level of system security, especially during
different viewpoints of national regulatory authorities, well large disturbances. The same approach can be followed for
defined grid-forming capabilities in the CNCs may be still the functionalities associated with the grid-forming capabilities
better approach to enable manufacturers to devise harmo- which ensure the containment of large system disturbanc-
nised implementations that serve the needs and demands es (system split) and the provision of novel system services
across Europe. (voltage and frequency control) from synchronous and / or
non-synchronous generation units.

ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration // 5

HVDC, FACTs and SCs are the immediate candidates to
explore the development of the grid-forming capabilities
Following the CNC developments and harmonised require- ther interactions with the regulators at a national level. In
ments, TSOs could initiate the development of grid-forming France, for example, such initial discussions are underway
capabilities by specifying their new assets, such as HVDC and the regulator understands and acknowledges this need.
systems, FACTs and SCs. There is, naturally, a cost and Cost – benefit analysis is key here (depending on the capabil-
regulatory dimension to this aspect which will trigger fur- ity r­ equested, costs could be higher or lower).

Storage and sector coupling facilities should be ­

further explored in order to unlock their full potential
of ­providing grid-forming capabilities
Storage facilities could play an important role in delivering achieved via well-defined TSO–DSO interfaces, roles and
grid-forming capabilities in the future. The maturity of the responsibilities. In some countries, grid-forming capabilities
technology is high, and battery storage facilities could al- have already been demonstrated through projects support-
ready today offer grid-forming capabilities [ 12 ]. To support ed by the regulator. Sector coupling could also provide such
the TSOs in their responsibility to ensure system-wide fre- grid-forming capabilities, depending on the total installed
quency stability, the utilisation of distribution system oper- capacity per country. Finally, hybrid power plants is a future
ator (DSO) connected storage facilities could be a promis- option worth exploring.
ing option to explore. Unlocking the full potential could be

6 // ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration

Abbreviations
Acronym Meaning

AC Alternating Current

CNCs Connection Network Codes

DC Direct Current

DSO Distribution System Operator

ENTSO-E European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity

FACTs Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System

FCR Frequency Containment Reserves

HVDC High-Voltage Direct Current

MMCs Modular Multi Level Converters

PPMs Power Park Modules

RDI Research & Development & Innovation

SCs Synchronous Condensers

TSO Transmission System Operator

ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration // 7

Bibliography
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8 // ENTSO-E Grid Forming Capabilities – Towards System Level Integration

Picture credits:
cover: iStock @Blue Planet Studio
pages 4, 6: courtesy of Vattenfall
 European Network of
Transmission System Operators
for Electricity