A normal form for grid forming power grid actors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a normal form for grid forming power grid actors, enabling analysis of grid stability and behavior without detailed technical models, based on complexity theory and physics.

Contribution

It derives a normal form for grid forming components using a complexity theoretic approach, facilitating technology-independent stability analysis.

Findings

Normal form captures complex inverter behavior without detailed tech knowledge

Enables analysis of grid stability in heterogeneous systems

First experimental validation of the normal form

Abstract

Future power grids will be operating a large number of heterogeneous dynamical actors. Many of these will contribute to the fundamental dynamical stability of the system. By taking a complexity theoretic perspective we derive a normal form for grid forming components in power grids. This allows analyzing the grids systemic properties without the need for detailed technical models. Our approach is based on the physics of the power flow in the grid on the one hand, and on the common symmetry that is inherited from the control objectives grid-forming power grid components are trying to achieve. We provide a first experimental validation that this normal form can capture the behavior of complex grid forming inverters without any knowledge of the underlying technology, and show that it can be used to make technology independent statements on the stability of future grids.