No Arabic abstract
Monitoring and modelling the power grid frequency is key to ensuring stability in the electrical power system. Many tools exist to investigate the detailed deterministic dynamics and especially the bulk behaviour of the frequency. However, far less attention has been paid to its stochastic properties, and there is a need for a cohesive framework that couples both short-time scale fluctuations and bulk behaviour. Moreover, commonly assumed uncorrelated stochastic noise is predominantly employed in modelling in energy systems. In this publication, we examine the stochastic properties of six synchronous power-grid frequency recording with high-temporal resolution of the Nordic Grid from September 2013, focusing on the increments of the frequency recordings. We show that these increments follow non-Gaussian statistics and display spatial and temporal correlations. Furthermore, we report two different physical synchronisation phenomena: a very short timescale phase synchronisation ($<2,$s) followed by a slightly larger timescale amplitude synchronisation ($2,$s-$5,$s). Overall, these results provide guidance on how to model fluctuations in power systems.
Power-grid systems constitute one of the most complex man-made spatially extended structures. These operate with strict operational bounds to ensure synchrony across the grid. This is particularly relevant for power-grid frequency, which operates strictly at $50,$Hz ($60,$Hz). Nevertheless, small fluctuations around the mean frequency are present at very short time scales $<2$ seconds and can exhibit highly complex spatio-temporal behaviour. Here we apply superstatistical data analysis techniques to measured frequency fluctuations in the Nordic Grid. We study the increment statistics and extract the relevant time scales and superstatistical distribution functions from the data. We show that different synchronous recordings of power-grid frequency have very distinct stochastic fluctuations with different types of superstatistics at different spatial locations, and with transitions from one superstatistics to another when the time lag of the increment statistics is changed.
Frequency fluctuations in power grids, caused by unpredictable renewable energy sources, consumer behavior and trading, need to be balanced to ensure stable grid operation. Standard smart grid solutions to mitigate large frequency excursions are based on centrally collecting data and give rise to security and privacy concerns. Furthermore, control of fluctuations is often tested by employing Gaussian perturbations. Here, we demonstrate that power grid frequency fluctuations are in general non-Gaussian, implying that large excursions are more likely than expected based on Gaussian modeling. We consider real power grid frequency measurements from Continental Europe and compare them to stochastic models and predictions based on Fokker-Planck equations. Furthermore, we review a decentral smart grid control scheme to limit these fluctuations. In particular, we derive a scaling law of how decentralized control actions reduce the magnitude of frequency fluctuations and demonstrate the power of these theoretical predictions using a test grid. Overall, we find that decentral smart grid control may reduce grid frequency excursions due to both Gaussian and non-Gaussian power fluctuations and thus offers an alternative pathway for mitigating fluctuation-induced risks.
An imperative condition for the functioning of a power-grid network is that its power generators remain synchronized. Disturbances can prompt desynchronization, which is a process that has been involved in large power outages. Here we derive a condition under which the desired synchronous state of a power grid is stable, and use this condition to identify tunable parameters of the generators that are determinants of spontaneous synchronization. Our analysis gives rise to an approach to specify parameter assignments that can enhance synchronization of any given network, which we demonstrate for a selection of both test systems and real power grids. Because our results concern spontaneous synchronization, they are relevant both for reducing dependence on conventional control devices, thus offering an additional layer of protection given that most power outages involve equipment or operational errors, and for contributing to the development of smart grids that can recover from failures in real time.
Power grid frequency control is a demanding task requiring expensive idle power plants to adapt the supply to the fluctuating demand. An alternative approach is controlling the demand side in such a way that certain appliances modify their operation to adapt to the power availability. This is specially important to achieve a high penetration of renewable energy sources. A number of methods to manage the demand side have been proposed. In this work we focus on dynamic demand control (DDC), where smart appliances can delay their switchings depending on the frequency of the system. We introduce a simple model to study the effects of DDC on the frequency of the power grid. The model includes the power plant equations, a stochastic model for the demand that reproduces, adjusting a single parameter, the statistical properties of frequency fluctuations measured experimentally, and a generic DDC protocol. We find that DDC can reduce small and medium size fluctuations but it can also increase the probability of observing large frequency peaks due to the necessity of recovering pending task. We also conclude that a deployment of DDC around 30-40% already allows a significant reduction of the fluctuations while keeping the number of pending tasks low.
Stable operation of the electrical power system requires the power grid frequency to stay within strict operational limits. With millions of consumers and thousands of generators connected to a power grid, detailed human-build models can no longer capture the full dynamics of this complex system. Modern machine learning algorithms provide a powerful alternative for system modelling and prediction, but the intrinsic black-box character of many models impedes scientific insights and poses severe security risks. Here, we show how eXplainable AI (XAI) alleviates these problems by revealing critical dependencies and influences on the power grid frequency. We accurately predict frequency stability indicators (such as RoCoF and Nadir) for three major European synchronous areas and identify key features that determine the power grid stability. Load ramps, specific generation ramps but also prices and forecast errors are central to understand and stabilize the power grid.