IEEE Draft Recommended Practice for Use and Functions of Virtual Synchronous Machines

Electrification is the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century and power systems have been serving as the crucial infrastructure for societal and economic functioning. A paradigm shift is underway, transitioning from centralized generation with synchronous machines to distributed generation interfaced with power electronic converters. An increasing number of loads are interfaced with power electronic converters as well. Moreover, electrification is still ongoing - over a billion people still lack electricity access and those who do still have limited freedom to choose reliable suppliers. The rise of renewable distributed energy resources (DER), like wind and solar power, offers an affordable solution and expedites the shift. This shift, termed the democratization of power systems, presents unprecedented challenges to grid stability and reliability. Turning power electronic converters into Virtual Synchronous Machines (VSM) to mimic and, in some cases, to surpass the dynamics and behavior of conventional synchronous machines through the inherent synchronization mechanism of synchronous machines is a promising solution to unify and harmonize their interface and interaction with each other and the grid. This standard defines fundamental principles, essential functions, and optional functions of a Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) to make power electronic converters standardized for different applications and suitable for single-unit operation, multi-unit operation, islanded/off-grid operation, and grid-tied operation, facilitating the large-scale utilization of DER and the integration of power electronic converters into the grid, and advancing energy freedom and energy access.