Grid Forming – A myth or reality or Future of Power Systems

Grid Forming solutions are fundamentally different from conventional power systems or some of the claims are market driven. Why the Grid Forming emerged popular now.

The major reasons are high penetration of solar and wind, reduction in synchronous generators, lower system inertia, weak grids, frequency stability challenges and black start requirements.

Grid following inverters also took its evolutionary time and it is now a mature technology and datasheets and technical material are mostly standardized by reputed manufacturers of Grid Following Inverters but Grid Forming technology is new and it will take its evolutionary growth time and datasheets and technical materials are not standardized and they will be standardized with time.

Not a single datasheet of Grid Forming by its manufacturers mentions all the features and specifications of Grid Forming. Grid Following as its name is clear that it follows the grid refence frequency, voltage, current and phase angle of the Grid and cannot establish its grid voltage by itself. While Grid Forming creates its own voltage waveform, sets voltage magnitude and frequency, controls phase angle and other inverters synchronize to it.

Manufacturers claim that Grid forming provides synthetic inertia, black start , islanding, grid support, voltage source generation, seamless transition, harmonics suppression, renewable power smoothing etc and in their datasheets such features are not mentioned and if we ask questions from manufacturers, they submit white papers and heavy documents to read and understand by yourself because of the reasons Grid Forming is not merely a software but it includes hardware, digital signal processors, protection coordination, battery response and robust control algorithms and very complex architectures containing both hardware and software.

Not every Grid Forming PCS behaves identically because of different algorithms like droop control, VSG, Machine control, dispatchable virtual oscillator, VOC, Proprietary methods and each Grid Forming PCS behaves differently. I asked once a product manager three questions, what is the response time of your PCS, what is seamless transfer time and what is ramp rate and he said that all in milliseconds and you do not worry.

Then I asked him to provide specific values, he did not answer well. This is a common reply we get from representatives of manufacturers and same sentences we used to hear when solar started in Pakistan in 2008. Grid Forming is not a magic solution. It cannot solve undersized batteries, poor protection design, communication failures, weak transformers, bad grounding and poor commissioning.

Some suppliers of Hybrid inverters and batteries are also creating confusions by giving the name of Hybrid Inverter solutions as Battery Energy Storage Systems and they mislead by giving statement that Grid following is not different than grid forming. Some marketing material exaggerates the Grid Forming functions and features to attract the clients and then after supply and installations, they cannot prove what they say. There is a need to get the technical materials and study them before planning any BESS.

There is also a need to create a pressure on the manufacturers to include Grid Forming features and timing of transfer, switching, ramp rate and black start time. When I ask questions of Transfer time, Ramp rate, Seamless transfer time, back start time of PCS, variable replies come from the manufacturers and a person get confused.

Some say our PCS is fully Grid Forming and some say that it is VGS controlled and one get confused and when they provide heavy technical materials, we do not have much time to study them and finally we have to believe on their claims which are not true and sometimes true also.

Now question is that do Pakistani industrial facilities need Grid Forming BESS. Answer will be YES because transmission network is very vast and feeders are weak in industrial areas, rooftop solar penetration is very high and increasing day by day.

Wind power is also there and both solar and wind are variable sources. Pakistani commercial and Industrial facilities need battery energy storage systems with Grid forming features to solve issues like storage of surplus energy from installed solar and using in during peak tariff times, voltage fluctuations, frequency changes, harmonics control, reduction of demand charges which not only solves their grid stability issues but also reduction in levelized cost of energy.

Pakistani DISCOs and NGC ( National grid Company) also need to install BESS at transmission and receiving ends to prevent reverse flows, voltage swell, unstable frequency issues, Losses and congestion management and this will be a win-win situation for all commercial, industrial facilities and Grid operators Grid Forming is neither a myth nor a miracle. It is genuine engineering advancement that addresses real challenges in modern power systems.

However not every application requires grid forming and not every product marketed as Grid Forming delivers identical capabilities. The success of BESS depends not only on control philosophies but also on proper engineering, protection, system integration and operational objectives. Sound engineering but not marketing, should determine when Grid Forming is the right choice.

Read More: CCP solar study seeks market reforms

Do contact experts while selecting BESS for your facility. A few hours of expert consultation can save you millions in future losses. Given the growing interest in BESS in Pakistan and the limited availability of truly independent consultants, try to engage an independent technical advisor which can make differentiation in solving your problems.

Author-Engr. Faiz Bhutta is a Professional Engineer (PE) and PEClicensed consultant in Solar, Renewables, Energy Planning, Survey, Valuation and loss assessment with seven subcategories. I am certified trainer by Traccert Canada and running training center from 2015. I have trained over 15,000 professionals in Solar, Energy and Business Management since 2015 along with completion of consultancy of aggregate 50MW solar Projects. Along with my solar and BESS consultancy, I am delivering International Certification in BESS in partnership with Traccert Canada and its fourth batch is in process. Solar Industry has given me a title of Baba-e-Solar. For details visit www.tcebpk.org and send email faiz.bhutta@gmail.com for any advise and consultation.