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National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has announced plans to launch a new fast-acting frequency response service by summer 2020.
It will be the “flagship” for a new suite of integrated frequency response products unveiled today (4 December) by the ESO.
Dynamic Containment will be the fastest-acting of the ESO’s frequency response services – capable of responding to disturbances in less than a second – and will be used to correct large deviations in frequency that breach operational limits following outages or faults.
It will be first of three integrated frequency response products that will eventually replace the ESO’s current line-up.
The second, Dynamic Moderation, will be used to cope with sudden changes in intermittent generation, for example, due to gusting winds or cloud cover.
The third, Dynamic Containment, will be used to continuously correct smaller deviations in frequency. Providers of this service will not need to respond as rapidly as for the other two but will need to be available for longer periods.
The ESO said dynamic real-time frequency management is becoming increasingly important as the proliferation of non-synchronous and intermittent renewables lower the inertia of the power grid and make it more susceptible to disturbances.
The announcement comes after the ESO began trials of weekly frequency response auctions on a new platform developed in partnership with EPEX Spot on Friday. Almost 10.3GW of capacity was traded on the opening day.
Ro Quinn, head of national control at the ESO, said: “The new frequency response suite has been a couple of years in the making, so we’re delighted to be confirming the launch.
“Our dynamic containment product in particular will be a milestone on our roadmap for new and innovative changes to the electricity system, which will help our national control centre operate it more effectively, flexibly and – importantly – carbon free by 2025.
“As we move to a system with a more diverse energy mix, dynamic containment will be crucial to help us meet future challenges – particularly when it comes to fast frequency response and the task of balancing the system in real-time.”
ESO head of electricity market change delivery Colm Murphy said: “It’s always an exciting time introducing our roadmap for frequency response and reserve, particularly when it marks the launch of a significant new suite of services and a pilot auction platform.
“From this week we’ll be accelerating the conversations we’re having with providers we hope will engage with the new products and services set out in our roadmap, and we’ll continue working with participants in the auction trial to improve our understanding of how procurement of services closer to real-time can reap benefits for system operation, the market and energy consumers in Great Britain.”
Dynamic Containment is an evolution of the Enhanced Frequency Response service which the ESO trialled several years ago.
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