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Stability Assessment of Low-Inertia Power Systems: A System Operator Perspective

Manuel Hurtado, Mohammad Jafarian, Taulant Kerci, Simon Tweed, Marta Val Escudero, Eoin Kennedy, Federico Milano

TL;DR

The paper addresses stability assessment in low-inertia power systems by analyzing the All-Island Power System (AIPS) under high non-synchronous penetration using the Look-Ahead Security Assessment Tool (LSAT). It leverages a real-month dataset (June 2023) with approximately $8{,}594$ LSAT cases and around $800$ N-1 contingencies per case to evaluate rotor-angle, frequency, and voltage stability in real time, supplemented by look-ahead analyses. The study finds that frequency stability, and in particular RoCoF constraints, are the dominant binding constraint in the AIPS during the period studied, with strong correlations to inertia, wind, and demand conditions. These insights inform TSO strategy and inertia provisioning under the SOEF Roadmap, demonstrating LSAT’s practical value for dynamic stability management in large-scale low-inertia grids.

Abstract

This paper discusses the stability assessment of low-inertia power systems through a real-world large-scale low-inertia system, namely, the All-Island power system (AIPS) of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This system currently accommodates world-record levels of system non-synchronous penetration namely 75% (planning to increase to 80% next year). The paper discusses one-month results obtained with the state-of-the-art stability tool called look-ahead security assessment (LSAT). This tool carries out rotor-angle, frequency and voltage stability analyses and is implemented in the control centres of the transmission system operators (TSOs). The paper shows that, at the time of writing, the main binding stability constraint of the AIPS is related to the limits on the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF).

Stability Assessment of Low-Inertia Power Systems: A System Operator Perspective

TL;DR

The paper addresses stability assessment in low-inertia power systems by analyzing the All-Island Power System (AIPS) under high non-synchronous penetration using the Look-Ahead Security Assessment Tool (LSAT). It leverages a real-month dataset (June 2023) with approximately LSAT cases and around N-1 contingencies per case to evaluate rotor-angle, frequency, and voltage stability in real time, supplemented by look-ahead analyses. The study finds that frequency stability, and in particular RoCoF constraints, are the dominant binding constraint in the AIPS during the period studied, with strong correlations to inertia, wind, and demand conditions. These insights inform TSO strategy and inertia provisioning under the SOEF Roadmap, demonstrating LSAT’s practical value for dynamic stability management in large-scale low-inertia grids.

Abstract

This paper discusses the stability assessment of low-inertia power systems through a real-world large-scale low-inertia system, namely, the All-Island power system (AIPS) of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This system currently accommodates world-record levels of system non-synchronous penetration namely 75% (planning to increase to 80% next year). The paper discusses one-month results obtained with the state-of-the-art stability tool called look-ahead security assessment (LSAT). This tool carries out rotor-angle, frequency and voltage stability analyses and is implemented in the control centres of the transmission system operators (TSOs). The paper shows that, at the time of writing, the main binding stability constraint of the AIPS is related to the limits on the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF).
Paper Structure (21 sections, 8 figures, 3 tables)

This paper contains 21 sections, 8 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Motivation
  3. Literature Review
  4. Contributions
  5. Paper Organization
  6. Dynamic Stability Management in the Ireland and Northern Ireland Power Systems
  7. RoCoF Setting Change
  8. Look-ahead Security Assessment Tool (LSAT)
  9. Transient Security Assessment Tool (TSAT)
  10. Voltage Security Assessment Tool (VSAT)
  11. Case Study
  12. Overview of Transient, Frequency and Voltage Insecurities
  13. Correlation between Frequency Insecurity and Operating Conditions
  14. Inertia
  15. Demand
  16. ...and 6 more sections

Figures (8)

  • Figure 1: Classification of power system stability 9286772.
  • Figure 2: Roadmap of RoCoF settings change in the AIPS.
  • Figure 3: Overview of real-time LSAT.
  • Figure 4: Correlation between inertia and frequency insecurities.
  • Figure 5: Correlation between total demand and frequency insecurities.
  • ...and 3 more figures