Power & Energy Magazine - Volume 19: Issue 6 - November/December 2021: The Future Balancing Act

The complexion of power systems operations and planning is changing as solar and wind generation resources replace fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the electrification of fossil-based end uses is increasing the system load. Photovoltaic and wind resources are inverter-based, variable generation. Their voltage and frequency control mechanisms are fundamentally different than those of synchronous machines with a large spinning mass. A transition from fossil fuel dominated power systems requires rethinking operating principles and planning processes that have become engrained in grid management. New, unfamiliar operating paradigms can threaten power system reliability and stability. High-renewable system integration issues, exacerbated by increasing electricity demand, deserve careful study with early remedies to avoid dramatic socioeconomic impacts.