Optimal Reserve Operation in Turkey – Frequency Control and Non-Spinning Reserves
(Room G102-G103, Auditorium Centre, First Floor)
11 Jun 15
11:00 AM
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12:30 PM
Tracks:
Theme: Flexing the Power of Gas
Fast reserves are needed in order to cover for transients and grid stability challenges. With increasing variable renewable generation, the need for faster and more flexible generation is evident. Modern gas-fired internal combustion engines (ICE) with rapid controls are one of the most appropriate solutions for ensuring that generation meets demand at all times.
TEIAS, the Turkish TSO, has for many years requested testing to ensure compliance with power reserve operation. They have seen the benefits of fast responding primary and secondary reserves for grid stability operation. This paper will show cases of excellent reserve operation of ICE plants in Turkey.
Integration of intermittent renewables requires an increasing share of system reserves. Currently, a large share of these reserves has to be spinning in order to quickly be able to balance any fluctuations in supply or demand. In practice, this means that power plants have to operate at part-load which inevitably decreases their efficiency and increases their per kWh costs.
There is a more efficient way of providing a substantial part of these reserves by utilising flexible, fast-starting power plants. This even applies for secondary reserves, which are typically required to respond within 30 seconds after a contingency and reach their full output within 5-10 minutes. With ICE plants it is possible to fulfil these requirements without stand-by spinning. While in standby-mode, ICE reserves do not consume any fuel, generate any emissions nor suffer from wear. Moreover, the inefficient part-loading of larger power plants is reduced, which in turn allows the whole system efficiency to be further increased. Finally, by enabling a more stable operation profile for the larger plants, the additional maintenance costs connected with frequent cyclic operation can be reduced. In the second part of this paper, the value of introducing non-spinning reserves in Turkey will be studied.