Optimization of Reserve Capacity for New Energy Participating in Primary Frequency Regulation of the Power System

Key findings from this study

• The study found that appropriate reserve provision from new energy sources enables rapid frequency recovery following system disturbances.
• The authors report that reserve capacity, response speed, and regulation rate are jointly determining factors for post-disturbance frequency trajectories.
• The researchers demonstrate that wind power, photovoltaic, and thermal generation exhibit differentiated primary frequency regulation control performance characteristics.

Overview

This study addresses primary frequency regulation in power systems with high penetration of renewable energy sources. The research examines how wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation, and thermal power generation perform in frequency regulation control, and develops an optimization method for configuring reserve capacity from new energy sources to support system frequency stability. The work integrates analysis of frequency distribution, regulation rates, frequency regulation capacity, and frequency deviation magnitude as variables influencing post-disturbance frequency trajectories.

Methods and approach

The researchers conducted comparative analysis of primary frequency regulation control performance across wind, photovoltaic, and thermal power generation technologies. They systematically evaluated how reserve capacity, response speed, and regulation rate jointly influence system frequency dynamics following disturbances. The optimization framework accounts for system frequency response performance requirements while considering new energy consumption constraints. Validation employed simulation analysis on a simplified actual power system model to demonstrate the proposed reserve configuration method.

Results

Simulation results demonstrate that reserve capacity allocation from new energy sources substantially improves post-disturbance frequency recovery rates. The study identified that appropriate reserve provision by new energy generation facilitates rapid frequency stabilization. The analysis reveals quantifiable relationships between reserve configuration parameters and frequency trajectory outcomes, with the optimization method producing configurations that balance frequency regulation performance against new energy consumption objectives.

Implications

The proposed optimization methodology provides a technical framework for integrating renewable energy into primary frequency regulation services. By establishing reserve capacity requirements that account for response dynamics and regulatory constraints specific to wind and photovoltaic systems, the research enables grid operators to harness new energy sources for frequency support without compromising renewable energy utilization targets. This integration approach addresses a critical operational challenge in power systems experiencing structural shifts toward renewable-dominant generation portfolios.

The findings indicate that reserve capacity from new energy sources functions as a viable technical solution for maintaining frequency stability as thermal generation shares decline. The work establishes that frequency regulation can be achieved through optimized reserve allocation rather than reliance solely on conventional generation capacity. These results support broader system planning objectives by demonstrating technical feasibility of frequency regulation with high proportions of renewable energy access.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.