A grid code is a technical specification which defines the parameters a facility connected to a public
electric grid
An electrical grid (or electricity network) is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids consist of power stations, electrical substations to step voltage up or down, electric power tran ...
has to meet to ensure safe, secure and economic proper functioning of the electric system. The facility can be an
electricity generating plant, a consumer, or another network.
The grid code is specified by an authority responsible for the system integrity and network operation.
Its elaboration usually implicates network operators (distribution or
transmission system operators), representatives of users and, to an extent varying between countries, the regulating body.
Contents of a grid code vary depending on the transmission company's requirements. Typically, a grid code will specify the required behavior of a connected generator during system disturbances. These include
voltage regulation
In electrical engineering, particularly power engineering, voltage regulation is a measure of change in the voltage magnitude between the sending and receiving end of a component, such as a transmission line, transmission or distribution line. Vol ...
,
power factor
In electrical engineering, the power factor of an AC power system is defined as the ratio of the ''real power'' absorbed by the electrical load, load to the ''apparent power'' flowing in the circuit. Real power is the average of the instantaneou ...
limits and
reactive power
In an electric circuit, instantaneous power is the time rate of flow of energy past a given point of the circuit. In alternating current circuits, energy storage elements such as inductors and capacitors may result in periodic reversals of the ...
supply, response to a system fault (e.g.
short-circuit
A short circuit (sometimes abbreviated to short or s/c) is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance. This results in an excessive current flowing through the circuit ...
), response to frequency changes on the grid, and requirement to "
ride through
In electrical power engineering, fault ride through (FRT), sometimes under-voltage ride through (UVRT), or low voltage ride through (LVRT), is the capability of electric generators to stay connected in short periods of lower electric network vol ...
" short interruptions of the connection.
There is not a common grid code in all countries and each electric grid has its own grid code. Even in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
, there is no grid code that applies to all territories.
Independent power producers
All generators including
Independent power producer
An independent power producer (IPP) or non-utility generator (NUG) is an entity that is not a public utility but owns facilities to generate electric power for sale to utilities and end users. NUGs may be privately held facilities, corporations ...
s like
photovoltaic power station
A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, solar farm, or solar power plant, is a large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power system (PV system) designed for the supply of merchant power. They are different from most building ...
s or
wind farm
A wind farm, also called a wind park or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an exten ...
s
have to comply with the grid code.
Grid codes for renewable energy integration
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Categorizing
Grid code requirements can be divided into two categories: static and dynamic requirements.
See also
* Smart grid
The smart grid is an enhancement of the 20th century electrical grid, using two-way communications and distributed so-called intelligent devices. Two-way flows of electricity and information could improve the delivery network. Research is main ...
* RISSP
References
External links
Indian grid code
Italian grid code (for direct connections to TSO)
Italian grid code (for connections to DSOs)
UK grid codes
International Grid Code Listing
{{Electricity delivery
Electric power transmission
Regulation of technologies