Real-Time Simulation and experimental results for Grid-Following Inverter providing synthetic inertia, fast reserve, peak shaving and load leveling services to the electrical network

The increasing penetration of Non-Programmable Renewable Energy Sources (NPRES) is reducing system inertia and challenging the stability of modern power grids. Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) offer flexible solutions for supporting frequency regulation and providing further services such as peak shaving and load leveling. This study presents the StorInPlus device, a grid-following inverter integrated into a Virtual Energy Storage System (VESS) via the ViSto platform, designed to provide multiple ancillary services. A detailed simulation model was developed in Simulink using the Simscape Electrical library, including a double-loop control structure, a two-stage Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for grid synchronization, and a mechanism for estimating frequency and Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF). The inverter’s active power reference combines a baseline contribution with service-specific components for Synthetic Inertia (SI), Fast Frequency Reserve (FFR), and secondary services. The model incorporates a DC-link, IGBT-based PWM modulation, an LCL filter, and a delta-star transformer. Simulation and experimental results provided by a laboratory prototype demonstrate that StorInPlus can effectively track grid conditions, provide rapid dynamic support, and enhance grid stability under high renewable penetration, validating its potential as a scalable solution for modern power systems.