If the frequency goes too far from its normal value of 50Hz, blackouts or equipment damage can result. National Grid contracts frequency response services to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Frequency response is the fastest type of demand response — it is suitable for sites that can act in seconds to respond to failures at large power stations and/or help to manage the normal second-by-second frequency fluctuations. This includes energy storage, diesel rotary UPS (DRUPS) at data centres and industrial load, for example. Dynamic and static services have different response times, ranging from sub-second to 30 seconds.
Depending on the type of frequency response being procured by National Grid, contracts are secured through a daily auction or a monthly tender process.
- Firm Frequency Response
- Dynamic Containment
- Dynamic Moderation
- Dynamic Regulation