Below is a brief summary of system services and what Gridguard can contribute.
¶ Brief introduction to ancillary services
Gridguard is a platform developed to aggregate entities that want to be available for the frequency services provided by the TSO. In Denmark, there is one TSO, which is Energinet.
There are different technologies that can be used for the spectrum services, some examples of which are shown in figure 1.
With Gridguard, the primary focus is the management of batteries. Batteries are characterized by being able to deliver all frequency services, which are: FCR, FCR-D, FCR-N and FFR. Denmark is divided into 2 networks which are RG Nordic and RG Continental Europe. RG Nordic is: Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Findland. RG Continental Europe is the rest of Denmark and central Europe, see figure 2.
On Zealand, the following frequency services are available: FCR-D up and down, FCR-N and FFR. The different services have different characteristics such as:
- FCR-D can run as asymmetrical with an up/down regulation and run in multiples of 100kW. The performance requires 50% of the load to be activated within 5s and 100% within 30s
- FCR-N is symmetrical and runs in multiples of 300kW and is a slower performance, requiring 150s for full activation.
- FFR is upregulation only and the fastest output running in multiples of 100kW. The requirement is full activation within 0.7s.
All other areas in Denmark have the FCR output which is symmetrical and runs in multiples of 1MW and is a slower output where the requirement is 50% activation within 15s and 100% within 30s.
¶ Gridguard functions
The Gridguard portal is used by owners of plants that are reported to the system market and by operators who have a pool of plants that they aggregate.
¶ Submission of bids
By default, the system is set up so that the installation owner registers his installation for the coming week with a deadline of Saturday at 2000. The installation owner enters the available capacity and the individual service to be won. These bids are aggregated for multiple installations and submitted to the TSO via a balance service provider "BSP". The won bids and lost bids are continuously displayed on the portal.
¶ Financial overview
The portal provides an ongoing status of the finances generated by the installation. The finances are shown for each individual installation as well as a summary for the operator of the sum of the aggregated installations.
On a monthly basis, the portal generates a settlement voucher which, together with an automatic bank transfer, offsets the generated income.
¶ Operator access
The portal is designed for an operator to have their own pool of aggregated actuators controlled from Gridguard. It is the operator who is responsible to Energinet. Energinet.
¶ Control of installations
Gridguard is IT connected to the RTU provided by SoftControl. The purpose of the RTU is to measure the frequency locally on the installation and at the same time control the actuator in relation to whether it is in operation and in relation to which output. In addition to controlling the actuator, the RTU also makes the measurements that the TSO requires to be provided after an operating period.
¶ Plant monitoring
Once a plant is up and running and delivering a frequency output, real-time monitoring of the system is important. This is a natural built-in function in Gridguard, which is connected to the control center, which contacts the local service partner by phone and with a 24/7 contract can respond to error messages.
¶ Pre-qualification
All systems entering the system market must be pre-qualified. With the use of Gridguard, this is automated so that the individual files can be easily generated and sent to the TSO on demand.
¶ Reporting files
Gridguard is able to generate CSV files containing time, frequency and delivered performance in the reported time. This is a file that the TSO can request for random tests or if there have been problems with a service in an area.
The system can also deliver the report files to be used in connection with pre-qualification.
¶ Data collection
In close collaboration with the manufacturer of e.g. a battery, a special data logging of data specified by the manufacturer is made. The reason why data logging is done through Gridguard is because of data security. There are increasing demands for data security in relation to where data is stored and general IT security in relation to hacker attacks. A direct access from a Chinese manufacturer to a large grid-connected battery is considered too risky and therefore Gridguard acts as a firewall between the manufacturer and the physical battery.
¶ Automatic integration between Virtual power plant "VPP" and ancillary services
If the plant owner does not want to bid into the system market, or if some bids are lost, the system can automatically switch to VPP where general optimization is looked at in relation to electricity prices and grid tariffs. electricity prices and grid tariffs.
¶ Ready for EnergyTrading
There may be other uses for batteries besides system services and VPP. Therefore, SoftControl has chosen to collaborate with a major Danish energy trader who, in addition to the BSP role, is also balance responsible "BRP". With this collaboration, there will be better opportunities for additional earnings on the battery.