How are electricity supply and demand kept in balance now?
In every electricity network, a “Transmission System Operator” (TSO) takes charge of this process, using different tools for different timescales. There are three categories: response, reserve and contingency reserve. • Frequency response (seconds): the supply frequency tells you whether the electricity system is balanced or not. If frequency is low, demand has exceeded supply. If frequency is high, supply has exceeded demand. Frequency response happens automatically, and can only hold the system stable for a few minutes if a large power station fails. Two examples of frequency response are: • Governors on large thermal power stations open and close the steam or fuel valves as frequency rises and falls. In order to do this, the power stations have to be running at part load. • If frequency falls too low, some large electricity consumers allow their processes to automatically trip. • Reserve (minutes): the TSO can instruct fast-acting generators to start or increase output when demand g
In every electricity network, a “Transmission System Operator” (TSO) takes charge of this process, using different tools for different timescales. There are three categories: response, reserve and contingency reserve. • Frequency response (seconds): the supply frequency tells you whether the electricity system is balanced or not. If frequency is low, demand has exceeded supply. If frequency is high, supply has exceeded demand. Frequency response happens automatically, and can only hold the system stable for a few minutes if a large power station fails. Two examples of frequency response are: • Governors on large thermal power stations open and close the steam or fuel valves as frequency rises and falls. In order to do this, the power stations have to be running at part load. • If frequency falls too low, some large electricity consumers allow their processes to automatically trip. • Reserve (minutes): the TSO can instruct fast-acting generators to start or increase output when demand g
