Spanish wind farms ready to take part in voltage control, set to become a key service after the blackout

Spain’s wind power sector has declared its readiness to actively take part in voltage control in the power system. According to industry association AEE, renewables are set to play a key role in ensuring grid stability after the major blackout in April. New rules allowing wind and solar power plants to provide voltage control services are expected to come into force next year.

Voltage control has come into focus for grid operators and power generators following the major power outage that hit Spain and Portugal at the end of April. The Spanish Wind Energy Association AEE (Asociación Empresarial Eólica) has now said the sector is technically and operationally ready to provide voltage regulation services and contribute to power system stability.

“Voltage has taken on crucial importance since the April blackout … controlling it is a challenge that requires the greatest effort,” AEE said in a statement. The association expects the new rules, which will allow renewables to actively control grid voltage, to be successful, with hundreds of renewable installations taking part in providing this service.

Transmission system operator Red Eléctrica announced in October that it had certified the first renewable power plants eligible to take part in voltage control under a newly introduced ancillary service. The service is expected to be fully operational during next year. This is an important step towards integrating a high share of generation from wind and solar power plants into a system historically designed to operate with large, dispatchable sources.

Several official investigations into the April blackout identified inadequate voltage control as one of the main triggers of the widespread interruption to electricity supplies. The incident has accelerated debate about the role renewables should play in the future energy system—not only as electricity generators, but also as providers of system services.

According to AEE, renewables will be at the “vanguard” of ensuring grid security and stability as the energy system decarbonises. As the share of conventional power plants declines, wind and solar farms will become increasingly important in contributing to voltage and frequency regulation and overall system stability.

A key prerequisite for success, however, is getting market mechanisms right. The association says remuneration and penalty schemes must be designed to encourage generators to provide these services without deterring them through excessive risks or administrative burdens. According to AEE, a sustainable model for involving renewables in system services is essential to the market’s long-term stability.

According to the association, wind companies are already beginning to analyse the new business opportunities that participation in voltage control could bring. Taking part in these services could therefore represent not only a technical necessity, but also a new revenue stream amid declining subsidies and growing competition in the electricity market.