National Grid ESO has launched the second phase of its Power Available (PA) project in a bid to support a smarter, more flexible energy system.
PA is a live data feed available to the ESO’s control room engineers, which tells them what the potential maximum power output of a wind generator is at a given time and in given conditions, with the ESO’s control systems then able to accurately calculate the response and reserve capability held on each generator. This enables them to compete with other generation technologies to provide real time response and reserve.
Phase one saw the integration of the PA signal from over 90 renewable generators in National Grid ESO’s control systems and processes, with this providing greater visibility to its control room engineers.
Phase two has built on this success, the ESO said, further optimising its systems to make better use of wind power for response services when it is economic to do so.
The ESO explained that now the use of the signal is going beyond real time, with engineers able to see availability of variable generators to provide frequency response for future time periods. It is encouraging all wind farms to consider providing the PA signal, with only those who connected to the network in 2016 and beyond required through industry governance codes.
Work is also underway to make PA for solar available at a later date, National Grid ESO confirmed.
It outlined how through projects like PA, the electricity system is becoming smarter and more flexible, adding that “since wind power is often a cost-effective option when it to comes to real time frequency response” PA is also delivering increased value to consumers.