A Novel Framework for Centralized Remote Power Smoothing as a Prospective Ancillary Service

Abstract

The increasing integration of intermittent renewable energy sources and the large load variations introduce fast power fluctuations. These fluctuations can impact grid stability and lead to significant frequency deviations, emphasizing the need for effective power smoothing strategies to ensure reliable grid operation. This paper introduces a novel centralized remote power smoothing (CRS) framework, where smoothing facilities (SF) are located away from the sources of power fluctuations. The CRS is proposed as a novel market ancillary service that can be fully integrated within the existing automatic generation control (AGC) of power system operators. The feasibility of the CRS is evaluated in comparison to conventional on-site smoothing and increasing AGC reserve capacity. First, a real-world proof of concept is demonstrated in the electricity system of Ontario, Canada, where a 2-MW flywheel storage facility remotely smooths the output power of a 200-km away transmission-connected wind plant. Subsequently, several simulation studies are conducted on the New England IEEE 39-Bus System, using real high-resolution renewable power and load profiles with 2–second granularity. The proposed CRS achieves up to 84% of the on-site smoothing performance using only 56% of its SFs’ capacities. Yet, CRS large-scale practical implementation could be limited to 80% of its theoretical performance.