News, Research & Development

DNV GL launches new mobile test equipment for testing frequency and voltage control of power plants

Portable test equipment demonstrates successful frequency control testing of power at a Swedish pulp mill and power plants in Myanmar

HØVIK, Norway – 25 October 2018 – DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has launched a new mobile and flexible test tool which allows users to verify the frequency performance and voltage control of power plants, to ensure a reliable power supply. This is especially important for island operations, where the power plant operates in isolation from the national or local grid and for highly sensitive industrial environments, such as pulp mills, refineries, chemical industries and data centres with in-house power production.

New global compliance rules and ancillary services mean that Transmission System Operators now demand that power producers verify their frequency containment reserve and voltage control/reactive power capabilities, as this is crucial for the short-term balance of generation and load. DNV GL’s Energy Transition Outlook report, forecasts that the world will experience a surge in global electricity production, with renewable sources powering an estimated 80% of global electricity production in 2050. The large-scale integration of renewables further increases the future need for testing services to ensure that power plants can keep pace with demand.

DNV GL has already demonstrated the success of the mobile test equipment by undertaking successful testing of a pulp mill in Sweden and shipping it to Myanmar for use at a local power plant. Over the course of three weeks, the team travelled across Myanmar, testing, adjusting and verifying the frequency controllers of several units. The tests performed are part of a larger project aimed at improving the power quality in Myanmar by transitioning from manual to fully automatic frequency control.

The new test equipment can meet several needs including:

  • Grid Code fulfilment verification
  • Dynamic model validation
  • Enabling island operation capability
  • Optimized tuning of frequency and voltage control

Speaking about the launch of the tests equipment, Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President North Europe, Middle East & Africa at DNV GL said: “Shifting requirements within various industries coupled with national regulations means that ensuring the integrity of turbine generators has never been more important. Our new mobile test equipment meets a crucial market need for robust verification using smaller and smarter tools that reduce cost and increase revenue for customers.”