Grid-Forming Inverter Controls | Grid Modernization | NLR
NLR is developing grid-forming controls for distributed inverters to enable reliable control of low-inertia power systems with large numbers of inverter-based resources.
Traditional “grid-following” inverters require an outside signal from the electrical grid to determine when the switching will occur in order to produce a sine wave that can be injected into the power grid. In these systems, the power from the grid provides a signal that the inverter tries to match.
NREL is developing grid-forming controls for distributed inverters to enable reliable control of low-inertia power systems with large numbers of inverter-based resources. Existing power systems are dominated by synchronous generators with large rotational inertia and contain a small amount of inverter-interfaced generation.
In order to provide grid services, inverters need to have sources of power that they can control. This could be either generation, such as a solar panel that is currently producing electricity, or storage, like a battery system that can be used to provide power that was previously stored.
Grid-forming inverters can start up a grid if it goes down—a process known as black start. Traditional “grid-following” inverters require an outside signal from the electrical grid to determine when the switching will occur in order to produce a sine wave that can be injected into the power grid.
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