NESO introduces tool for data-secure EMT analysis
Image courtesy 123rf
Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) has announced their new Grid Connection Simulation Tool to enable plant owners and consultants to carry out wider system Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) analysis without accessing sensitive data of other users in the system.
The tool is being introduced into the operator’s Grid Connect X innovation project to speed up renewable energy connections to Great Britain’s National Electricity Transmission System (NETS).
Historically, says the company in a release, sharing grid connection models involved complex negotiations around non-disclosure agreements and intellectual property (IP) protection.
The Grid Connections Simulation Tool will facilitate multi-vendor participation, secure data sharing, and reduce reliance on non-disclosure agreements to streamline grid connection studies.
Have you read:
GB’s NESO leads project on network security in a quantum future
Scottish operators quadruple impact assessment threshold for grid connections
The proposed tool could offer a potential solution whereby the entire Great Britain EMT network model remains hidden from external parties such as plant owners, consultants, and academics.
Users will be granted access only to a designated connection point where they can integrate their own plant models for conducting EMT studies.
By implementing this tool, it ensures the confidentiality of the wider network data while still enabling users to perform rigorous system analysis.
According to the NESO, it streamlines the process for grid connection studies by removing the need for extensive non-disclosure agreements with users, thereby speeding up the approval process for new connections.
According to the company, as more zero-carbon generation sources such as wind and high voltage direct current come online, the power system needs to transition towards high inverter-based generation for reliability.
The company highlights the August 2019 power outage in the UK, which they say highlights the need for robust EMT models to ensure grid stability.
The company adds that the new platform removes the need for ‘best guess’ using generic models by ensuring the EMT models used in grid connection studies are accurate and reflective of their actual behaviour.
Additionally, the tool would enable potential savings of up to £15 billion ($19 billion) for offshore wind projects by increasing the speed in which they are connected to the grid.
