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Grid Codes in Europe - Overview on the current

requirements in European codes and national
interconnection standards

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GRID CODES IN EUROPE
Overview on the current requirements in European codes and national
interconnection standards

NEDO/IEA PVPS Task 14 Workshop

November 1, 2019
Roland Bründlinger1
1 AIT Austrian Institute of Technology; Vienna, Austria
Contents
• Solar PV and Wind in the European
Electricity System

• The European Network Code

“Requirements for Generators”

• Impact on European standardization

• National implementation

• Summary and outlook

2
2
STARTING POINT
Solar PV and Wind in the European electricity system
Evolution of Solar PV and Wind generation
in Europe

Solar +11 GW in 2018

Wind +11 GW in 2018

24.01.2020 4
Sources: Solar Power Europe Global Market Outlook 2019-2023; WindEurope
Evolution of overall generation capacities
in Europe

(Source Entso-E ELECTRICITY IN EUROPE 2017)

End 2017:
• 312 GW RES = 27% of total installed
24/01/2020 generation 5
The Role of Solar PV in the European electricity system

(Source: Solar Power Europe Global Market Outlook 2017-2021)

Germany: >7,0% of demand,
Bavaria >800 W/habitant

Italy: 9% of electricity
demand
Greece: 7% of demand
THE EUROPEAN NETWORK CODE RFG
Requirements for Generators to be connected to the European
Electricity Networks
Establishment of European Network Codes
• Situation in the European power system
and electricity market
• Increasing penetration of variable RES
• Increased market-driven power flows
• Delays in grid reinforcement
• Declining inertia

• Urgent need to establish European-wide

Source: ENTSO-E

rules
• Close cooperation of system operators
and users during normal and disturbed
operating conditions
• preserve or restore system security

1/24/2020 8
The evolution of grid codes and interconnection
standards for generators in Europe

2003 2008 2011 2016 2019

25 GW Wind 10 GW PV 50 GW PV 100 GW PV 130 GW PV
2 GW PV 65 GW Wind 95 GW Wind 154 GW Wind 190 GW Wind

EU wide
National grid codes regulation
First grid German MV 50.2 Hz Issue 04/2016 04/2019 NC
support grid code Development of Publication of RfG
requirements mandates EU NC RfG Requirements
for large-scale LVRT++ for European wide
network codes applied for all
wind power all generators
new
DE LV grid code
generators
mandates P(f)
1/24/2020 10
The EU Network Code on Requirements for
Generators - key facts
Objectives Establish legally Ensure system security Boost the market of
binding EU wide with a growing share of generation
RES and variable technologies and
harmonization of generation increase
grid interconnection competitiveness
requirements

Approach Requirements Balance European Technology-neutral

according to the wide harmonized
requirements as well
system relevance as to take into account
of the generators regional specifics

Implementation Definition of Classification of General requirements

generator types requirements: for all generators plus
- Exhaustive and additional for
A/B/C/D with - synchronous PGM
associated - Non-exhaustive
- Non-mandatory - Power Park Modules
requirements - Offshore PPM

1/24/2020 11
Definition of generator types
• Definition of capabilities from a systems perspective - largely independent of the
technology
• generator capacity
• connection level (voltage)
• transmission grid area

1/24/2020 12

https://www.entsoe.eu/major-projects/network-code-development/requirements-for-generators/
Technical requirements addressed by the NC RfG

Requirement A B C/D Requirement A B C/D

Frequency Operating frequency ranges X X X Robustness Fault-ride-through X X

stability
RoCoF withstand capability X X X Post-fault active power recovery X X
Limited Frequency Sensitive Mode - X X X System Coordinated reconnection X X
Overfrequency restoration

Constant active power output regardless X X X General Control schemes and settings X X
of changes in Frequency system
Electrical protection and control schemes X X
management
Limitation of power reduction at X X X and settings
underfrequency Priority ranking of protection and control X X
Automatic connection X X X Information exchange X X
Remote ON/OFF X X Additional requirements to monitoring X
Active power reduction remote control X Voltage Reactive power capability X X
stability
Additional requirements related to X Fast reacting reactive power injection X X
frequency control
Additional requirements for reactive power X
Provision of synthetic inertia X capability and control modes

1/24/2020 13
NATIONAL GRID CODES
Implementation and requirements
Implementation of the NC RfG on the national level
Process and current status

Public stakeholder Notification with Product Appli-

consultation process the EC development cation

May May 27 April

2016 2018 2019

ENTSO-E Connection Codes implementation monitoring site:

https://docs.entsoe.eu/cnc-al/

1/24/2020 15
National implementation
Step 1: Defining actual thresholds for generator types
RfG max. C/D
(Proposed) capacity thresholds in kW
thresh. 75 MW

RfG max. B/C

Type D thresh. 50 MW

Type C
Type B
RfG max. A/B
Type A threshold 1 MW

1/24/2020 16
National implementation
Step 2: Detailing Non-Exhaustive Requirements

Requirement A B C/D Requirement A B C/D

Frequency Operating frequency ranges X X X Robustness Fault-ride-through X X

stability
RoCoF withstand capability X X X Post-fault active power recovery X X
Limited Frequency Sensitive Mode - X X X System Coordinated reconnection X X
Overfrequency restoration

Constant active power output regardless X X X General Control schemes and settings X X
of changes in Frequency system
Electrical protection and control schemes X X
management
Limitation of power reduction at X X X and settings
underfrequency Priority ranking of protection and control X X
Automatic connection X X X Information exchange X X
Remote ON/OFF X X Additional requirements to monitoring X
Active power reduction remote control X Voltage Reactive power capability X X
stability
Additional requirements related to X Fast reacting reactive power injection X X
frequency control
Additional requirements for reactive power X
Provision of synthetic inertia X capability and control modes

1/24/2020 17
Rate Of Change Of Frequency (ROCOF)
withstand capability
• Requirement in NC RfG: Country Rate Of Change Of
Applicable
Frequency (ROCOF)
• “a power-generating module shall be withstand capability to
capable of staying connected to the RfG definition for None ABCD
network and operate at rates of Continental Europe

change of frequency up to a value

Austria 2 Hz/s ABCD
specified by the relevant TSO” Belgium 2 Hz/s ABCD
Germany 2 Hz/s (500 ms) ABCD
Denmark 2 Hz/s (200 ms) ABCD
• Commonly fixed at 2 Hz/s for continental France N/A
Europe with minor differences in UK 1 Hz/s (500 ms) ABCD
measurement period Ireland 1 Hz/s (500 ms) ABCD
Netherlands 2 Hz/s (500 ms) ABCD
• UK/IE set lower requirement at Spain 2 Hz/s (500 ms) ABCD
1 Hz/s Italy 2.5 Hz/s (100 ms) ABCD

Source: UL1741SA
24.01.2020 18
 Limited Frequency Sensitive Mode –
Over frequency (LFSM-O)
Country Limited Frequency Sensitive Mode – Over
frequency (LFSM-O) [Art. 13-2 (a-g)]
• NC RfG requirement Requirement Threshold Delay
Droop
RfG definition 2% to 12%
Source: EN 50549:2018

Austria 5% 50.2 Hz none

Belgium 5% 50.2 Hz none
Germany 5% 50.2 Hz none
Denmark CE: 5 % (SPG/PPM) CE: 50.2 Hz none
N: 4 % (SPG/PPM) N: 50.2Hz
France 5% 50.2 Hz <2 s
UK 10% 50.4 Hz <2 s
Ireland 4% 50.2 Hz none
Netherlands 5% 50.2 Hz none
Spain 5% 50.2 Hz none
Italy 2.6% 50.2 Hz none

24.01.2020 19
 Reactive power provision
Country Reactive power capability for Type B PPM
• NC RfG requirement for Type B
and larger units Reactive power range Voltage range
Source: Draft RfG Anforderungs VO, e-control, Austria

Q/Pmax
RfG definition none none
Austria -0.411 to 0.411 0.875 to 1.1 p.u.
Belgium 0.33/0.33 0.9 to 1.1 p.u.
Germany cosφ 0.9 at Pmax 0.9 to 1.1 p.u.
Denmark 0.33/0.33 0.9 to 1.05
France 0.35/0.4 Not specified
UK cosφ 0.9 at Pmax 0.95 to 1.05 p.u.
Ireland -0.33 to 0.33 Not specified
Netherlands -0.4 to 0.35 0.9 to 1.1 p.u.
Spain -0.3 to 0.3 0.95 to 1.05 p.u.
Italy -0.484 to 0.484 (LV) not specified
-0.312 to 0.312 (MV, Wind)
-0.436 to 0.436 (MV, PV)

24.01.2020 20
Under voltage ride-through requirements
• NC RfG requirement for Type B
Country FRT capability of Type B PPMs
and larger units
Voltage parameters Time parameters
Uret Uclear Urec1 Urec2 tclear trec1 trec2 trec3
RfG (range) 0.05 Uret to Uclear 0.85 0.14 tclear trec1 1.5 to
to 0,15 to 3.0
0.15 0.25
Austria 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.85 0.15 0.15 0.15 1.5
Belgium 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.85 0.20 0.20 0.20 1.5
Germany 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.85 0.15 0.15 0.15 3.0
Denmark 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.9 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.5
France 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.85 0.15 0.15 0.15 1.5
UK 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.85 0.14 0.14 0.14 2.2
Ireland 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.85 0.25 0.25 0.25 2.9
NL 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.85 0.25 0.25 0.25 3.0
• Remark: No HVRT requirement in Spain 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.85 0.20 0.20 0.20 1.5
Italy 0.05 0.15 0.15 0.85 0.20 0.20 0.20 1.5
NC RfG
Source: UL1741SA
24.01.2020 Source: NC RfG 21
Fast fault current injection capability
• NC RfG requirement for Type B
Country Fast fault current injection capability of
and larger Type B PPMs
FFCI
• Related to the fast fault current RfG definition On request of RSO/TSO
injection capability, the NC RfG Austria Yes, 2 ≤ k ≤ 6
only provides a basic definition. Belgium Yes, reference to EN 50549-2 [32], 0<k<6
Germany Yes, 2 ≤ k ≤ 6
The detailed implementation has
Denmark Yes, k=2
to be specified on the national
France Yes, reference to EN 50549-2 [32], 0<k<6
level. UK Yes, no parameters specified
Ireland Yes, no parameters specified
• Large differences related to details NL Yes, 2 ≤ k ≤ 10
Spain Yes, 2 ≤ k ≤ 6
in national documents
Italy Yes

24.01.2020 22
From EU NC requirements to detailed DER
interconnection specifications
• The EU NC RfG and its national implementation documents
focus on
• cross-border relevant issues
• transmission system
• System stability

• The following aspects are excluded from the scope

• Assessment of individual DER interconnection
• Distribution system specific requirements (e.g. voltage
control, interface protection, islanding, safety…)
• Compliance testing
• Implementation of communication and control
➔ These items are still regulated on the national/utility level by
local laws, standards, codes etc.
➔ Gap between state-of-the-art and NC RfG requirements
24/01/2020 23
EUROPEAN STANDARDS
New standards implementing the EU NC RfG
Network Code RfG
Relation to European Standards
• New EN 50549 series of standards developed by
CENELEC TC8X WG03
• Requirements for generating plants to be
connected in parallel with distribution networks
• Part 1: Connection to a LV distribution network
generating plants up to and including Type B
• Part 2: Connection to a MV distribution network
generating plants up to and including Type B
• Published in 2019
• Separate document describing procedures for
(certification) testing of units (EN 50549-10) under
development
1/24/2020 25
Network Code RfG
Relation to European Standards
• EN 50549 series have close relationship with the NC
RfG
• reflects the current technical market needs.
• Relevant for product vendors
• including definitions for all capabilities of generators
for operation in parallel to distribution grids.
• Intended “to serve as a technical reference for the
definition of national requirements where the RfG
European Network Code requirements allow flexible
implementation”.

1/24/2020 26
Selected European Country Requirements
LV connected, Type A PPMs
Country NC RfG* EN 50549-1 Germany Italy Austria France Spain Denmark UK*
Update 10/2019 (Type A)
Type A power limit (MW) ≤1 ≤1 ≤0.135 ≤0.011 ≤0.25 ≤1 ≤0.1 ≤0.125 ≤1
Function 2016 2019 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2018/2018
Frequency range Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes/Yes
ROCOF withstand cap. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes/Yes
P(f) at over freq. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes/Yes
P(f) at under freq. No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No/No
Q/cosφ range No Yes Yes (cosφ) Yes (all) Yes No No >3.68 kW No/No
Cosφ(P) No Yes Yes (all) Yes (all) Yes No No >3.68 kW No/No
Q(U) No Yes >4.6 kVA >11.08 kW * Yes No No No No/No
P(U) No Optional Allowed* Optional Yes No No No No/No
Ramp rate limits No No Yes No No No No No No/No
Remote control of P No Yes >30kW >11.08 kW No No No No No/No
Remote control of Q No Optional No >11.08 kW No No No No No/No
Remote off Yes Yes Yes Yes (all) Yes No No Yes Yes/Yes
LVRT (UVRT) No Yes Yes* >11.08 kW Yes No No No No/Optional
HVRT (OVRT) No Yes Yes* No No No No No No/No
Fast reactive current No No No No/Yes* No No No No/No
Reference (EU) 2016/631 EN 50549-1:2019 VDE AR N 4105: CEI 0-21:2019 TOR Erzeuger Type Arrêté du 23 avril Propuesta OM Dansk Energi Guide ENA_EREC_G98_I
(NC RfG) 2018-11 A:2019-07 2008 Códigos de Red for connection of ssue_1_Ammendm
Enedis-NOI- Propuesta_PO_12_ power-generating ent_1_2018
RES_13E V 7 2018 2_Implementacion_ plants to the low- ENA_EREC_G99_I
CRCs* voltage grid Type A ssue_1_Ammendm
and B ent_1_2018
Remarks * non exhaustive * Not required * Additional lock-in/- * On request of *Draft proposals * Type A
requirements out function DSO only ≤16 A/>16 A
subject to
implementation in
national codes

1/24/2020 27
Selected European Country Requirements
MV connected, Type B PPMs
Country NC RfG EN50549-2 Germany Italy Austria France Spain Denmark UK
Update 10/2019 Type B
Type B range (MW) 1 to 50 1 to 50 0.135 to 36 0.011 to 6 0.25 to 35 1 to 18 0.1 to 5 0.125 to 3 1 to 10
Function 2016 2019 2018 2019 2019 2013 2010/2014 2019 2018
Frequency range Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ROCOF withstand cap. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
P(f) at over freq. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
P(f) at under freq. No No Yes Yes No No No No No
Q/cosφ range Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes >2MW Yes Yes
Cosφ(P) * Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No
Q(U) * Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes*
P(U) * Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Ramp rate limits No No Yes No No No No Yes No
Remote control of P * Yes Yes Yes >100kW No >2MW Yes Yes
Remote control of Q * Optional Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No
Remote off Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
LVRT (UVRT) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes >5MW >2MW Yes Yes
HVRT (OVRT) No Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Fast fault current * Yes Yes Yes Yes >5MW No Yes Yes
Reference (EU) 2016/631 EN 50549-2:2019 VDE AR N 4105: CEI 0-16:2019 TOR Erzeuger Type Arrêté du 23 avril Propuesta OM Dansk Energi Guide ENA_EREC_G99_Is
(NC RfG) 2018-11 B:2019-07 2008 Códigos de Red for connection of sue_1_Ammendmen
Propuesta_PO_12_ power-generating t_1_2018
2_Implementacion_ plants to the low-
CRCs* voltage grid Type A
and B
Remarks * non exhaustive Specific *Draft proposals * To be agreed with
requirements subject requirements for only DNO
to implementation in island networks
national codes (Corsica and DOM-
TOM).
1/24/2020 28
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
from a European perspective
Summary and conclusions
• In Europe the role of DER – particularly PV and Wind has changed from a marginal
technology to a visible player in the electricity market
• Numerous countries have been updating national grid codes and require DER to provide
• Frequency control capabilities
• P control during frequency variations
• Steady state and dynamic voltage support
• Q(U), cos phi(P) control…
• Ride-Through capabilities
• On-demand response via remote control and communication
• European Network Code RfG introduced coordinated requirements needed for safe and
reliable grid integration of high shares of DER
• Focus on system (frequency) stability in the European-wide system
• Application for new generator connections since April 2019

1/24/2020 30
Summary and conclusions
• Implementation of the European NC RfG on the national level
• started an extensive discussion process among all involved stakeholders and
authorities,
• Fundamental impact on the existing national legal, technical and regulatory
framework for the grid connection and operation of power generation.
• Most of the requirements in the NC RfG are “non-exhaustive” detailed and specified
on the national level.
• As of October 2019, national requirements have been detailed - BUT
• Major differences between the countries
• Various levels of details in the national implementation documents
• Official approval still pending in some countries
• High level of uncertainty regarding the implementation, testing and certification…
1/24/2020 31
Acknowledgement
• The participation of AIT within the
IEA-Photovoltaic Power Systems
Programme (PVPS) Task 14 is
funded in the frame of the IEA
Research Cooperation program by
the Austrian Ministry for Transport,
Innovation and Technology under
contract no. FFG 870648.

24/01/2020 32
Many thanks for your attention!
Roland Bründlinger
roland.bruendlinger@ait.ac.at

33
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