Review of System Strength and Inertia Requirements for the National Electricity Market of Australia

Synchronous generators (SGs) are still making major contributions to the re-stabilization of a power system following voltage/frequency disturbances, attributed to their inherent capability of providing system strength and inertia. However, SGs powered by fossil fuels are operating to a lesser extent and scheduled for decommissioning in the National Electricity Market (NEM) of Australia due to the accelerating increase of low bidding priced asynchronous generation of wind and solar, which leads to the reduction and even in some cases, a shortage of system strength and inertia. This paper comprehensively reviews the requirements of system strength and inertia in the NEM from an operational security perspective. Australia is the first country that established the regulation rules of system strength and inertia to accommodate issues of an emerging high penetration level of non-synchronous renewable generation.