Voltage and Frequency Control

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
20 KW
D 20 KW
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R 20 KW
Engine DG I
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100 KVA 100 KW T
I 20KW
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SPEED OF ENGINE -1500 RPM IF LOAD=100 KW
SPEED OF ENGINE <1500 RPM IF LOAD>100 KW
SPEED OF ENGINE>1500 IF LOAD <100 KW 20 KW
TI1
G1 TL
G2 2
TL
3
G3
TL
4
G4
GRID
TL
5
G5
TL
6
Gn
TLn
-1
WG TLn
PV
PLANT
Conventional
controllable
Generators
Load demand
Renewable
energy
generators
uncontrollable
When share of RE Generators increases then it is difficult to manage

frequency in case of production of wind or solar is stopped
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
Minute Lectures

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)
Minute Lectures

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
Minute Lectures

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

Minute Lectures
• 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
Minute Lectures
• 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:
Minute Lectures

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
Minute Lectures

•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
•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:
Minute Lectures

•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
Thanks

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Voltage and frequency control of the grid

•In Europe, all electrical grids are interconnected

When share of RE Generators increases then it is difficult to manage

• None of these options are conceivable on large scale in

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