Considerations on a Dynamic Grid Ecosystem

The transformation of electrical grid systems is globally underway and has led to the significantly increased penetration of renewable energy-based generation into grids, rapid global growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) as an integral and growing part of the entire power system, deep electrification of the final energy use such as electrified transportation, large data centers, and increased electricity use in buildings. The grid transformation is evolving quickly and has impacted profoundly the current power systems which are still operating in a traditional manner. In particular, the fast variations in both the generation and consumption coupled with the proliferation of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) demand additional flexible power system resources, decentralized control and management, and new methods of system protection and operation. There exist significant technology gaps and needs across all sectors, including tremendous challenges in generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. All these present the need for new principles and fundamentals for controlling a grid ecosystem that is sustained by millions of inverters. The gaps and challenges offer an opportunity to develop and integrate these cross-cutting technologies with the future grid, and engage with stakeholders from technology, industry, business, policy, and society.