As we’ve now emerged from the other side of the pandemic, energy prices are at an all-time high. We have also learned from the Covid-19 period that the future of energy in the UK is likely to be akin to a rollercoaster ride, with lots of ups, downs, and unexpected turns along the way. For instance, we have recently experienced record-high balancing costs, problems with voltage, inertia, and frequency, and various other issues with the national grid. It’s within this context that we want to introduce you to the concept of dynamic containment, and what it might mean for our carbon neutral goals of tomorrow.
What is dynamic containment?
The National Grid announced the roll out of the inaugural dynamic containment frequency response service in October, 2020. The overarching goal of dynamic containment is to boost the National Grid’s ability to respond to rapid disturbances in electricity flow around the grid, which is a particular problem around the times of peak usage. After all, it’s the responsibility of the National Grid to supply power to homes and businesses throughout the UK.
One of the key factors that influences the stability of the UK’s grid is frequency, which is essentially a measure of energy in and out of the British transmission network. In other words, it’s a case of supply and demand, and in a perfect world, both would be in perfect balance. But of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect world and it’s difficult for the national grid to maintain a steady frequency of 50Hz, which is what homes and businesses in the UK are designed to operate at.
The reality is that the supply and demand of electricity are in a constant state of flux, and there are so many variables that affect the equilibrium of the grid at any one time. It takes teams working around the clock to monitor the grid and keep it working within one percent of the 50Hz ideal, which is no mean feat. So, this is precisely where dynamic containment can come in, provided it is used well.
Will dynamic containment help Britain keep the lights on?
The pressures on the National Grid are enormous, and as we transition toward a carbon-neutral society, we will be faced with new challenges. But keeping the lights on and keeping Britain moving will continue to be a problem that we face, which is why dynamic containment is seen as such a crucial service. When a fault in the system triggers a change in frequency – this could be something like the loss of a generator – dynamic containment will act rapidly to catch and contain the resulting deviation in frequency. Essentially, it will prevent power outages from occurring. The key to the success of dynamic containment is speed, as a small deviation can impact the entirety of Britain’s electricity network in a heartbeat.
Dynamic containment has been made possible via arrangements with generators, which sees them remain on standby, ready to respond when required. And as Britain becomes more reliant on renewable energy generation, this faster-acting frequency response is even more important than ever, as the grid will be operating with what is known as lower inertia. So, the bottom line is that dynamic containment is supporting Britain’s entire electricity network and will help us as we transition to more sustainable sources of fuel in the near future.
Dynamic containment and battery energy storage
Battery energy storage is one of our most effective resources as we accelerate towards a carbon neutral future. After all, preserving renewable energy instead of letting it go to waste is a crucial part of the energy supply chain and will have a lasting impact on the way that we manage our energy consumption long into the future.
As a recent report shows, dynamic containment presents a range of new challenges to battery energy storage systems. It is posited that dynamic containment will actually drive investment in battery energy storage, given the huge potential that the technology represents. Still, as it’s a relatively new initiative in the UK, only time will tell if dynamic containment has the desired effects, and whether our battery energy storage solutions will contribute to a greener Britain that is less reliant on fossil fuels for our energy.
