Workshop B4 & C4: Grid forming

Moderator: Dechao Kong
Sub Session 1: Grid Forming Converter Technologies, chaired by Changjiang Zhan (B4)

Part 1 of Grid forming workshop covers emerging grid-forming (GFM) converter technologies for transmission systems, highlighting converter-based solutions that enhance stability in weak and low-inertia grids.
Topics include the first E-STATCOM installation integrating supercapacitor storage to deliver fast inertial and voltage support, operational benefits observed during grid events, and lessons from GFM HVDC schemes that reveal the need for coherent, non-conflicting grid-code requirements.

Testing and deployment pathways for GFM BESS are also discussed.

- E-STATCOM: Design and performance of a supercapacitor energy storage integrated into a STATCOM (Speaker: German KUHN)
An Energy Static Synchronous Compensator (E-STATCOM) was put into operation in the 400 kV substation Mehrum, Germany, end of 2025 marking the first installation of its kind.
The technology includes short-term energy storage to meet Grid Forming (GFM) requirements with significant instantaneous reserve.
The presentation discusses specific requirements and considerations regarding the design and performance of the E-STATCOM, with a focus on the inertia provision through the short-term energy storage based on supercapacitors.
Finally, first operational experiences show the positive impact for grid stabilization during grid events.

- The application of synchronous grid forming and constrained-synchronous grid forming to point-to-point HVDC transmission and the impact on main circuit design (Speaker: Carl Barker)
In a point-to-point HVDC link one end controls the active power transfer and the other end controls the DC voltage.
Synchronous Grid Forming (SGFM) control can be applied to the active power controlling converter providing responses to phase jumps and AC frequency changes.
However, if SGFM control is applied at the DC voltage controlling station the priority must be the stability of the DC circuit, thereby “Constraining” the SGFM response.
The presentation will look at the implementation of SGFM and Constrained-SGFM within a point-to-point HVDC link and the interaction between the two ends of the HVDC link because of the behaviour of these controllers. 
It will also look at how the available SGFM performance is related to the HVDC link rating.

- Examples of previous GFM HVDC projects and defining GFM requirements for system need (Speaker: Adil ABDALRAHMAN)
Grid-forming (GFM) control, defined as the emulation of a voltage source behind an impedance, has been applied in several HVDC schemes already in operation, such as the Zambezi Link.
In these projects, GFM control was introduced to address specific system challenges, most notably operation in extremely weak grid conditions.
More recently, grid codes have started mandating GFM capability as a general requirement, independent of underlying system needs.
At the same time, a number of traditional grid‑following (GFL) requirements remain in force, despite not being fully compatible with the inherent behavior of GFM converters.
This situation can lead to conflicting performance expectations and unintended operational risks.
This presentation presents selected examples from operational HVDC projects employing GFM control and highlights some recent grid code requirements that could be contradictory in practice.
It emphasizes the importance of close collaboration between transmission system operators and equipment manufacturers to achieve coherent requirements ensuring reliable and secure power system operation.

- Widescale Deployment of Grid-Forming Converters in Transmission Grids: Challenges and Opportunities (Speaker: Xiongfei WANG)









 

Speakers

Dechao
KONG

Changjiang
ZHAN

German
KUHN

Carl
BARKER

Adil
ABDALRAHMAN

Xiongfei
WANG

Jun-chol
LEE

Julia
MATEVOSYAN

Ramasubramanian
DEEPAK

Thomas
SCHAUPP

Claudia
ZANABRIA

Xiaoyao
ZHOU