Fast frequency control services in Europe

Daniel Fernández-Muñoz∗ Álvaro Fernández-Espina∗

Ignacio Guisández Frank Burke
Juan I. Pérez-Dı́az and Manuel Chazarra Schwungrad Energie Ltd 40 Upper Mount Street
Technical University of Madrid (UPM) Dublin, Ireland
∗
c/ Profesor Aranguren s/n 28040 Madrid (Spain) [email protected]
∗
[email protected]

Abstract—The
objective
of
this
paper
is
to
review
the
fast- renewable generation (ave. 30% by energy). To ensure grid
acting
frequency
control
ancillary
services
that
are
currently
stability, EirGrid (Ireland TSO) has put a limit on the instan-
being
implemented
or
in
the
development
phase
in
the
European
taneous value of the System Non Synchronous Penetration
power
systems.
Not
only
the
technical
definition
of
the
services

will
be
here
explained
but
also
the
way
in
which
the
services
(SNSP). It started at 50% but has gradually been raised to
are
remunerated.
The
performance
of
a
flywheel/battery
hybrid
65%, and needs to rise to 75% to accommodate the country’s
energy
storage
plant
that
has
been
used
as
demonstration
project
target level of renewable generation.
to
test
the
capability
of
both
storage
technologies
to
provide
fast
National Grid (Great Britain TSO) carried out in 2015
acting
frequency
response
are
summarized
in
the
paper. a comprehensive study where the power system generation
Index
Terms—ancillary
services,
energy
storage,
fast-acting

response
reserve,
frequency
control. dispatch was modelled for a set of future energy scenarios,
and identified high RoCoF as an immediate challenge with
I.
I NTRODUCTION a high potential impact on the operability of the electricity
transmission system in Great Britain. As the Irish grid, Great
Historically
grid
stability,
in
terms
of
inertia,
has
been
Britain has no AC interconnection as well as a not yet fulfilled
provided
by
heavy
steam
and
hydro
turbines
and
generators
target level of renewable generation [3].
rotating
at
hundreds
or
thousands
of
rpm
and
synchronized
A number of recent studies [4]–[8] have pointed to the
to
the
grid.
If
the
grid
frequency
fell
these
machines
would
FCAS markets as the main source of income for energy
slow
down
and
the
associated
change
in
kinetic
energy
would
storage power plants and to the need that such power plants
automatically
be
converted
to
electrical
energy
and
injected
are allowed to participate in said markets in order to be
into
the
grid,
thereby
stabilizing
the
grid
frequency.
As
there
profitable. However, as explained above, most current Eu-
are
more
and
more
renewable
generators
coming
on
to
the
grid
ropean markets for the provision of frequency control are
which
are
not
synchronized
but
are
connected
through
power
failing to provide adequate price signals for energy storage
electronics,
there
is
less
room
for
the
heavy
conventional
plants
investments to be profitable. In this paper we will describe
to
provide
inertia
and
grid
stability. the Enhanced Frequency Response service which has recently
As
it
is
well
known,
quite
a
few
energy
storage
technologies,
been implemented in Great Britain [9], and various services
such
as
e.g.
batteries,
supercapacitors,
flywheels,
etc.,
are
able
defined under the framework of the EirGrid’s DS3 Programme
to
vary
their
active
power
output/input
from
standstill/full
load
[10], which is currently being tested.
to
full
load/standstill
within
0.5-2
seconds
and
can
therefore
Furthermore, we will present the operational experience of
help
the
power
system
reduce
frequency
deviations
in
a
greater
a 422-kW hybrid flywheel/battery research facility which has
extent
than
conventional
generation.
However,
there
are
still
been operating for more than 2 years in Rhode, Co. Offaly,
several
European
power
systems
where
the
participation
of
Ireland, for the provision of various DS3 FCAS.
energy
storage
power
plants
in
the
frequency
control
ancillary
The paper is organized as follows: Section II describes
services
(FCAS)
is
not
permitted
[1],
and
just
two
with
the main features of the services, in Section III several
a
payment
scheme
for
the
provision
of
frequency
control
academic proposals found in Europe are described, Section IV
which
explicitly
recognizes
the
response
speed
of
the
service
describes a trial case in the Irish power system and finally, the
provider,
namely:
the
Irish
power
system
and
the
power
system
conclusions are presented in Section V.
in
Great
Britain.
The
main
motivation
of
introducing
new
fast-acting
FCAS

II. S ERVICES DESCRIPTION
in
the
power
systems
of
Ireland
and
Great
Britain
is
among

others,
that
both
power
systems
have
concerns
about
high
The services described in this section are those FCAS whose
RoCoF
levels
(>0.5
Hz/s)
[2]. FC action (i.e. active power variation) must be deployed within
RoCoF
is
today
an
issue
for
the
Irish
grid
because
it
has
2 seconds from the corresponding triggering event/signal. A
no
AC
interconnection
and
already
has
a
high
penetration
of summary of the FCAS analyzed can be found in Table I with
the main characteristics of each one.

 
F  ,(((

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 TABLE I what happens the system frequency and what it is called to
M AIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SERVICES ANALYZED . provide. The SPR is yearly renewed and can be consulted in
Feature vs Product SIR FFR FPFAPR EFR [17] for the rates applicable from 1st May 2018. The SSF is
the product of a set of scalars aimed to incentivize different
Units MWs2 MW MW MW
Response time [s] Inst. 0-2 0,25∗∗ 1
features which are considered beneficial for the power system
Upward reserve Yes Yes Yes Yes
and the end consumer [10]. The trading period duration is
Downward reserve Yes No No Yes half an hour for every FCAS service [18]. In case of the SIR
Non-synchronous service, the SAV is the time weighted average for the trading
No Yes Yes Yes
provider period of synchronized M W s2 , the SPR is 0.005 e/M W s2 h
Performance-based
Yes Yes Yes Yes (this rate has increased by almost 10% in two years) and the
payment
SSF is the combination of a Locational Scalar, which depends
Explicit payment in
market for the service
Yes Yes Yes Yes on the geographical location of the providing unit (not yet
Procured via a implemented), and a Temporal Scarcity Scalar, whose value
No No/Yes∗ No Yes
competitive tender depends on the amount of the SNSP in the power system at the
Contract duration
5 5/6∗ 5 4
trading period. The total contracted volume of the SIR service
[years] with the power system of Ireland for the first year was of
Power System Ireland Ireland Ireland
Great
Britain
363.896 M W s2 with a forecast expenditure of 3,8 Me [19].
Implementation 2016 2018/20∗ 2018 2016
∗ For the case of the Volume Capped Procurement scheme [11].
B. Fast Frequency Response [FFR]
∗∗ Within 250 ms of the voltage recovering 90% of its pre-fault value.

1) Description: the FFR is the additional injection of output

power from a generator after a disturbance that is available
A. Synchronous Inertial Response [SIR] within two seconds of the start of the event and that can be
1) Description: SIR is the instantaneous response of active sustained for at least 10 seconds after the start of the event
power output that a synchronized synchronous unit can provide [20]. FFR increases the time to reach the frequency nadir
continuously in order to help arrest the RoCoF following and help mitigate the RoCoF [2]. This service fills the gap
frequency disturbances [12] and set the initial slope at which between the SIR service and the Primary Operating Reserve
the frequency falls [13]. It is defined as the kinetic energy (at (POR)2 service and can be provided in conjunction with the
rated frequency) of a centrally dispatched synchronous unit SIR service if the unit has the technical capability to deliver
multiplied by the SIR Factor (SIRF), whose value is the ratio both services [21]. A mandatory requirement for providing the
of the kinetic energy (at rated frequency) to the minimum FFR service is that the unit cannot draw more energy from
generation while providing reactive power control, with a the grid in the period of 10 to 20 seconds after the event than
minimum value of 15 seconds and a maximum value of 45 the one injected in the response period (2-10 sec). The units
seconds for generation units [14]. Increasing the number of providers of FFR service can response to a frequency event
units that can provide this service at low power generation with dynamic (continuous) or static (discrete steps) capability
levels, will increase the room for the SNSP. This service (Fig. 1). In both cases, the unit must provide its expected
started in October 1st 2016. response within 2 seconds of the frequency falling through
2) Payments: for all the services proposed in DS3 pro- the corresponding reserve trigger. There is a further incentive
gramme under the Volume Uncapped Procurement (VUP1 ) to provide an even faster response with a scalar of 2 applied
scheme, which is so far the only one available, the qualified to the tariff rate for a response within 500ms and a scalar
providing units will only tender based on their technical of 3 for 150ms. Units with dynamic capability must follow
capability, not on price, being rewarded with a regulated tariff the same FFR-frequency trajectory to recover its MW output
for the provision of each service [16], according to (1): after a frequency event as when providing reserve in response
to the frequency event. The static response curve includes
ST P P = SAV × SP R × SSF × T P D (1) hysteresis. Units with static capability can provide its available
where: reserve in one or more discrete steps. Units with dynamic
• STPP: service trading period payment [e]
capability can provide its reserve in discrete steps as well,
• SAV: service available volume [variable]
provided that at least 10 discrete steps are defined, with no
• SPR: service payment rate [variable]
individual step size greater than 5 MW or than the average
• SSF: service scaling factor [dimensionless]
step size plus 1 MW. This service is foreseen to be procured
• TPD: trading period duration [h]
implemented on September 1st 2018, being currently under a
Call for Competition tender for a qualification process (April-
Payment is based on the availability of the unit to provide
May 2018) [22].
the service (must be synchronized at the time) and not on
1 This refers to a procurement scheme which does not limit the volume of the 2 POR is a DS3 service which can be compared with classical services for
system services being procured and to which regulated tariffs will apply [15]. frequency containment.

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Fig. 1. FFR response curves: dynamic vs static capability. Elaborated from Fig. 2. Enhanced Frequency Envelope. Data from [24]
[15].

to both ones, is also defined in order to point out a target

2) Payments: the FFR service payment is based on the
profile for suppliers that do not have a finite energy capacity.
availability of the unit to provide the service and not on what
One of the most characteristic features of EFR is that the
happens the system frequency and what it is called to provide.
providers’ output is allowed to change within the deadband
It is determined by (1), where the SAV is the declared available
with the aim of easing the right performance of the future
MW of FFR, the SPR is 2.16 e/MWh and the SSF is the
activity of those providers that have to manage the state of
product of scalars which depend on: the unit performance,
charge of their installations. Maximum and minimum ramping
response time, enhanced delivery parameters, a Locational
rates have been established within the envelopes for predicting
Scalar whose value depends on the unit geographical location
better the system behavior and thus minimizing the risk of
(not yet implemented), and finally a Temporal Scarcity Scalar,
delivery overshoot. Furthermore, and although the operation
whose value depends on the amount of the SNSP for the
within the envelope selected by the supplier is the only
trading period (no payment will be made if the value of
legitimate, maximum ramping rates have been also included
SNSP is lower than or equal to 50% [14]). The procurement
outside of them in order to allow providers to come back to
for the FFR service will be done under the VUP or under
the corresponding envelope as soon as possible [25].
Volume Capped Procurement (VCP) schemes. In the latter a
2) Payments: the payment of EFR depends on the hours
volume upper limit will be defined for the service and the
for which the service is provided as well as the envelope type
service providers will offer a competitive price as part of their
and the availability fee (£/MW/h) offered by the appointed
tender [18]. This latter procurement has been delayed with
supplier [26]. The former aspect depends, in turn, on the
respect to the initial schedule [23] and is expected to start the
market, whereas the two latter are set for the duration of
procurement on September 2018 and the contract might not
the contract. The payment is evaluated each half hourly
start till 2020 [15].
settlement period. If the performance falls below the 95% of
C. Enhanced Frequency Response [EFR] the service committed by the provider, then the remuneration
1) Description: EFR is the provision or withdrawal of is penalized. In any case, the contract is terminated if the
active power as proportional and non-proportional responses annual performance results below 50% [25]. According to the
to changes in the system frequency within and outside a results of the first EFR tender [9], eight new battery storage
considered deadband, respectively. Active power variation has facilities (all committed with the envelope of ±0.015 Hz)
to occur in less than a second since the frequency is deviated, have been awarded a contract totaling 201 MW of capacity at
the time delay for detection and instructing the response being prices between 7 and 11.97 £/MWh of EFR. These facilities
included in the first half of that second. In addition, the have involved a total cost of £65.95 million and it has been
appointed supplier must be able to keep the control action estimated that EFR will lead to savings of roughly £200
for a minimum of fifteen minutes. The capacity offered for million over the duration of the first contract of four years
EFR both to be supplied or absorbed has to be identical and long [27].
between 1 and 50 MW. This service cannot be concurrently
provided with other services at the same time. Providers dis- D. Fast Post-Fault Active Power Recovery [FPFAPR]
patch themselves automatically, as per their tendered trading 1) Description: unlike the above described services, this
periods that should cover 95% of the time. Before starting service is only indirectly related with the system fre-
to provide the service for the first time, they must choose quency control. When a voltage disturbance occurs, the non-
between two types of envelope with deadbands of ± 0.05 Hz synchronous generators enter into a fault-ride-through-mode
and ± 0.015 Hz. They are geometrically defined by lower and limitating the injection of the active power. As the SNSP
upper piecewise frequency-output curves in which suppliers’ value increases this effect could enlarge the magnitude of
outputs should remain all times (Fig. 2). An intermediate the subsequent frequency disturbance. FPFAPR intends to
reference located in the middle of the envelopes, and common mitigate this impact incentivizing the generators that can

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 current AGC signal into two components: a slow-changing
and ramp-limited component with a high-energy content, and
a volatile one. The first signal is suitable to be followed by
hydropower plants, and the second signal by controllable loads
or energy storage devices (fast response units), having energy
capacity limitations but being able to respond to the AGC
signal instantaneously. Two scenarios are simulated in order to
investigate the impact, in the quality of the frequency control,
of the proposed re-design: the first scenario compares the
base-case in which the current AGC signal is only followed
by hydropower plants, to the new one in which the slow
Fig. 3. FPFAPR response curve [21]. AGC signal is only followed by hydropower plants and the
volatile signal only by fast response units. The second scenario
compares the base-case in which the current AGC signal
rapidly recover the output power following the fault with a is followed by 70% of hydropower plants and 30% of fast
reward instead of more stringent specific requirements in the response units, to the case in which the slow and volatile
grid code [2], [12]. For any fault cleared within 900 ms, an unit signals are both followed by 70% of hydropower plants and
providing FPFAPR must recover at least 90% of its pre-fault 30% of fast response units. Results show that under a 300-
MW output within 250 ms of the voltage recovering 90% of MW step increase in load in the first scenario, the frequency
its pre-fault value (Fig. 3). In addition, the unit must remain deviation is lower in the proposed re-design than in the current
connected and exporting active power to the power system AGC scheme whereas, in the second scenario, the frequency
for at least 15 minutes following the fault [14]. This service deviation is similar in both schemes.
has been deferred because it is only required when the SNSP
IV. A REAL CASE : R HODE SYSTEM SERVICE FACILITY
greater than 70% and the current limit is still 65%.
2) Payments: the FPFAPR service payment is determined As a part of the implementing phase of the DS3 programme,
by (1), where the SAV is the declare available MW of EirGrid entered into a demonstration project agreement with
FPFAPR, the SPR is 0.15 e/MWh and the SSF is the product Schwungrad Energie Ltd. in December 2015, to investigate
of a Performance Scalar whose value depends on the unit the use of a 422-kW flywheel/battery hybrid plant to provide
performance, a Locational Scalar, whose value depends on grid support for system frequency events with the provision
the unit geographical location, and a Temporal Scarcity Scalar, of fast-acting frequency response. The flywheels of the hybrid
whose value depends on the amount of the SNSP in the system plant can sustain a full output for 5 min and the batteries
for the trading period. For the FPFAPR service no payment for more than 20 min. Over the course of the project, five
will be made if the value of SNSP is below 70% [14]. frequency events (defined as when the system frequency falls
below 49.5 Hz) occurred which were used to validate the
III. E XISTING PROPOSALS IN E UROPE TO IMPLEMENT performance of the flywheel, the battery devices, as well as the
FAST F REQUENCY C ONTROL A NCILLARY S ERVICES flywheel/battery hybrid plant. Different control modes were
Two proposals [28], [29] regarding the implementation of developed and tested with each mode being in operation for
FCAS in Europe have been reviewed. The former examines at least one of the frequency events observed. One of these
if the introduction of a new FCAS, called fast frequency events is depicted in Fig. 4. The flywheel/battery hybrid plant
containment reserve during normal operation (fast FCR-N), performed well and it was demonstrated that, over a number
can improve the frequency quality, in the context of an increase of events, consistently had a very fast response time of the
of variable energy sources (wind and solar power) and loss order of 500ms, either by using RoCoF detection or when
of inertia in the Swedish system. Two different designs of the frequency falls gradually, and sustained a steady output
fast FCR-N, proportional and deadband design, are assumed. until the frequency recovered. EirGrid was satisfied that the
Results show that both proportional and deadband fast FCR-N project demonstrated that the flywheel/battery hybrid plant is
improve the frequency quality, reducing the time outside the capable of effectively providing frequency response services
normal frequency band by 26% in the proportional design and like FFR, POR, Secondary Operating Reserve (SOR) and
by 56% in the deadband design. Results also show that both Tertiary Operating Reserve 1 (TOR1)3 , with a time response
proportional and deadband fast FCR-N reduce the regulation ranging from 0.5 seconds up to 5 minutes. In addition to this,
effort of the hydropower units significantly, reducing the the TSOs have gained significant insights for the deployment
number of cycles in the guide vane by 65% in the proportional of such technologies and how they can be configured to
design and by 29% in the deadband design. The proposed provide support for system frequency events, in particular for
fast FCR-N can be provided by batteries, supercapacitors, the performance characteristics of the battery and flywheel
flywheels and wind power. [29] proposes a re-design of technologies [30].
the automatic frequency restoration reserve service of the 3 POR, SOR and TOR1, are services included in the DS3 Portfolio, but not
Swiss power system. The re-design is based on splitting the described in this paper because of their time response.

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