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To free the Baltic grid, old technology is new again

spectrum.ieee.org

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Re: To free the Baltic grid, old technology is new again

#2

Post by ViewTrick1002 »

This is why the common trope of "The grid can't function without the inertia from big heavy generators!!" detracting the rise of renewables is invalid. Synthetic grid strength has been available for a century.

Today the research focuses on "Grid forming inverters". Taking the same principle as powering a home in island mode and stretching it to the entire grid allowing non-synchronous generators to provide the system strength.

Re: To free the Baltic grid, old technology is new again

#3

Post by formerly_proven »

> All nine of the Baltics’ synchronous condensers will have power-boosting flywheels, as she explains, equipping each installation with up to 2,200 megajoules of energy.

Though 97% of that energy isn’t available to the grid as the name synchronous condenser implies.

Re: To free the Baltic grid, old technology is new again

#7

Post by sidewndr46 »

ViewTrick1002 wrote: post #2

This is why the common trope of "The grid can't function without the inertia from big heavy generators!!" detracting the rise of renewables is invalid. Synthetic grid strength has been available for a century. Today the research focuses on "Grid forming inverters". Taking the same principle as powering a home in island mode and stretching it to the entire grid allowing non-synchronous generators to provide the system…

this article is about using very high mass alternators to stabilize the grid's frequency

Re: To free the Baltic grid, old technology is new again

#9

Post by Retric »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #7
ViewTrick1002 wrote: post #2

This is why the common trope of "The grid can't function without the inertia from big heavy generators!!" detracting the rise of renewables is invalid. Synthetic grid strength has been available for a century. Today the research focuses on "Grid forming inverters". Taking the same principle as powering a home in island mode and stretching it to the entire grid allowing non-synchronous generators to provide the system…

this article is about using very high mass alternators to stabilize the grid's frequency

The clearest term IMO is synchronous capacitors. They are in effect large flywheels that can operate as both an electric motor and a generator.

Over time they are a net power drain for the grid, but as parent says offer synthetic grid stability independent of power sources.

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