Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Inverters for Virtual Inertia Emulation in Smart Grid

Le résumé fourni par la source

The increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar photovoltaic and wind power, into modern power systems has resulted in a lack of system rotational inertia traditionally provided by synchronous generators. The loss of system inertia worsens frequency instability, leading to more rapid frequency deviations, higher rates of change of frequency (RoCoF), and an increased likelihood of cascading failures. This paper presents a comprehensive comparative evaluation of the two leading control structures of inverter-based resources (IBRs), namely grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) inverters, based on their virtual inertia (VI) support and dynamic grid stability contribution. Time-domain simulations are performed on a modified IEEE 9-bus test system that integrates two IBR configurations to analyze the frequency response dynamics under progressive renewable penetration levels and sudden faults. The findings show that synthetic inertia control of GFM inverters exhibits superior dynamic performance by mimicking the inertial and damping characteristics of traditional synchronous machines, substantially enhancing the frequency nadir and transient stability. In comparison to GFM inverters, GFL inverters exhibit constrained independent frequency support, a deficiency that is particularly pronounced in low-inertia scenarios. These results highlight the importance of shifting toward GFM-based control approaches in future power systems to ensure secure, stable, and robust grid operation amid increasing renewable energy integration. However, technical and operational challenges, such as limited energy storage capacity, coordination of heterogeneous IBRs, and performance under low-inertia conditions, require further investigation.

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