Program

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The landscape of power system stability today, and even more so in the future, is characterized by decentralization, strong interconnectedness, and increasing local autonomy with a focus on individual needs. Concepts that have rapidly matured – such as grid-forming inverters compensating for a lack of physical inertia, synchronous-area-wide coordination of local V/Q control, and AI-driven predictive enhancement for near-real-time congestion management – exemplify this transformation. Driven by a tense global geopolitical situation, the accelerated and ever-faster energy transition in Europe is propelling the development of practical solutions for transmission and distribution grid stability at an unprecedented pace. Whilst many challenges and uncertainties still lie ahead, we are confident that, together, we will succeed in delivering the level of stability required for a resilient power system and secure operation, paving the way toward a new energy future for Austria and Europe.

Power systems are undergoing a major transition: The stability of classical power systems is dominated by large synchronous machines, which are connected to the main transmission level and are usually located close to the load centers. Modern power systems, however, are characterized by a substantially lower share of synchronous generation and a high contribution of converter-based generation. In addition, large amounts of generation are connected to distribution networks and in areas remote from load centers.
These changes continue to have a considerable impact on the stability of future power systems: the level of inertia and fast voltage support capability is decreasing, while power transfers across transmission lines are increasing. Grid forming converter technologies will help ensure the stability of future power systems. However, they come at a cost and with technical drawbacks compared to classical grid following converters. Therefore, it will be essential for the stability of future power systems to properly understand how grid-forming technologies can best be used, so that their benefits are maximized while keeping costs and technical risks low.