Grid-Forming Energy Storage: Key Tech for New Power System Stability

The document outlines the critical role of grid-forming energy storage in stabilizing new power systems dominated by renewable energy. As renewable generation becomes the main power source by 2035 under China's 15th Five-Year Plan, grid-connected converters replace traditional rotating generators, leading to low inertia, low damping, and weak voltage support. This causes frequent accidents and stability challenges. Grid-forming energy storage leverages flexible and controllable converters to compensate for missing inertia and damping, providing reliable voltage and frequency support. National policies from NDRC and NEA support R&D and demonstrations of this technology, emphasizing its ability to enhance stability in weak grids and large-scale wind/solar transmission. Key applications include improving transient frequency stability, mitigating transient overvoltage, and addressing wideband oscillations. The document also discusses market price mechanisms for ancillary services, including frequency regulation, to incentivize grid-forming storage deployment. Overall, grid-forming energy storage is positioned as essential for safe and stable operation of the new power system.