As the integration of wind power into the electrical grid continues to grow, managing the stability of power systems has become a pressing challenge. A recent study led by Yu Jingyi from the Digital Grid Research Institute of China Southern Power Grid presents a promising solution: an adaptive frequency support control strategy for wind farms that utilizes rotor kinetic energy.
The research addresses a critical issue: the declining inertia and disturbance resistance in power systems due to the increasing share of renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. This decline can lead to frequency stability problems, which are essential for maintaining reliable electricity supply. The proposed strategy introduces a participation factor that determines how much each wind farm contributes to frequency support based on the average rotor speed of its turbines. This approach allows for a more tailored response to frequency fluctuations, ensuring that wind farms can adjust their output power dynamically according to their operational status and the available rotor kinetic energy.
One of the key innovations of this strategy is its focus on optimizing the use of rotor kinetic energy. By doing so, the system can effectively allocate frequency modulation power, prioritizing turbines with greater kinetic energy and preventing low-speed turbines from over-participating in frequency support. This targeted approach not only enhances the overall frequency support capability of wind farms but also helps to avoid the secondary frequency drop that can occur after initial frequency support is provided.
The implications of this research are significant for the energy sector, particularly as countries worldwide strive to increase their renewable energy capacity. By improving the stability of power systems, this adaptive control strategy can facilitate a smoother integration of wind power into the grid, ultimately leading to a more reliable energy supply. Additionally, it opens up commercial opportunities for wind farm operators to enhance their operational efficiency and market competitiveness by adopting advanced control technologies.
Yu Jingyi’s work, published in “Power Engineering Technology,” highlights a crucial step forward in the quest for sustainable energy solutions. As the energy landscape evolves, strategies like these will be essential in ensuring that renewable resources can be harnessed effectively while maintaining grid stability and reliability.
