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DOE OSTI · 3018006

Asynchronous Grid Connections Providing Fast-Frequency Response: System Integration Study

Wald, Felix [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]·Sajadi, Amir [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)]·Mather, Barry [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)]·De Carne, Giovanni [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]
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Abstract

This paper presents an integration study for the recent power electronic-based fast-frequency response technology, "asynchronous grid connection" which operates as an aggregator for behind-the-meter resources and distributed generators. Both technical feasibility and techno-economic viability studies are presented. The fast-frequency response characteristics, validated against Power Hardware-in-the-Loop experiments, are integrated into an IEEE 9- bus system in DigSilent PowerFactory for system-level dynamic analysis. It demonstrates that droop-based control enhancements to local distributed generators allow their aggregation to provide grid-supporting functionalities and participate in the ancillary service markets. To this end, a long-term simulation embedding the system within the ancillary service market framework of PJM has been performed. The fast-frequency response regulation is subsequently used to calculate the potential revenue and project the results on a 15-year investment horizon. Finally, the techno-economic analysis provides recommendations for enhancements to access the full potential of distributed generators on a technical and regulatory level.

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24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTIONancillary servicesasynchronous gridinverter-based resourcespower system dynamicsrenewable energy sources

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Wald, Felix [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology], Sajadi, Amir [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)], Mather, Barry [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)], De Carne, Giovanni [Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]. 2026-01-26. Asynchronous Grid Connections Providing Fast-Frequency Response: System Integration Study. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpwrd.2026.3657602

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