Grid-forming-benchmarking-project – part I: the need for grid-forming and a joint benchmarking initiative

The future dynamic behavior of electrical power systems will be shaped not only by grid-forming converters at the extra-high voltage level but increasingly by those deployed at high and medium voltage levels. At present, the absence of binding standards governing their dynamic performance has led to a broad spectrum of interpretations among manufacturers. Furthermore, there is a lack of universally accepted methodologies for verifying grid-forming capabilities. To address these gaps, a collaborative research initiative involving Germany’s four transmission system operators and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has developed a dedicated testing and verification guideline. This guideline aims to reliably demonstrate the fundamental characteristics of grid-forming converters. This first of three contributions from the Grid-Forming-Benchmarking-Project highlights the necessity of grid-forming converters for maintaining power system stability. It introduces the essential characteristics of grid-forming converters derived from system requirements, which form the cornerstones of the proposed testing methodology.