I think the event is only indirectly related to wind turbines. Traditional large heavy synchronised generators are being replaced by non-synchronised renewables connected via invertors and as a consequence the inertia of the interconnected network is falling. It was a windy day in summer, so the system inertia would be unusually low. With low inertia the frequency drop on losing generation would be very rapid, and would have hit the frequency limits that trigger load shedding before there could be an adequate response.
National Grid is aware of the falling system inertia and is trialling an assortment of measures under the EFCC (Enhanced Frequency Control Capability) programme to mitigate it. The 9th August event just happened a few years too soon!
I think the event is only indirectly related to wind turbines. Traditional large heavy synchronised generators are being replaced by non-synchronised renewables connected via invertors and as a consequence the inertia of the interconnected network is falling. It was a windy day in summer, so the system inertia would be unusually low. With low inertia the frequency drop on losing generation would be very rapid, and would have hit the frequency limits that trigger load shedding before there could be an adequate response.
National Grid is aware of the falling system inertia and is trialling an assortment of measures under the EFCC (Enhanced Frequency Control Capability) programme to mitigate it. The 9th August event just happened a few years too soon!
