Development of NIE networks' nodal controller project to deliver reactive power support to the wider electricity system

• Main Authors: Jonathan Pollock, David Hill, Lee Smyth, Donal McGuckin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019-07-01
• Series: The Journal of Engineering
• Subjects: renewable energy sources; power consumption; reactive power control; distributed power generation; power generation control; northern ireland; electricity system; electricity consumption; nie networks nodal controller project; reactive power; renewable sources; distributed energy resources
• Online Access: https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/joe.2018.9342
• ISSN: 2051-3305

In 2017, 34.8% of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources located in Northern Ireland. Alongside other significant changes to the electricity sector this leads to an increasing need for reactive power. This paper provides an overview of NIE Networks' nodal controller project which aims to deliver reactive power support to the wider system through the utilisation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). The requirements and implementation of the nodal controller are outlined with future work proposed to provide additional reactive power support to the system.