Grid support services by wind and solar PV: a review of system needs, technology options, economic benefits and suitable market mechanisms: Synthesis report of the REserviceS project

The foreseen high shares of wind and solar PV in the European electricity supply bring fundamental changes in the way transmission and distribution network operators use grid support services (ancillary services) from generators to manage network frequency, network voltage and system restoration. These changes are twofold in the sense that (a) needs of power systems are changing and (b) the changing generation fleet with its specific technology characteristics changes the technical and economic opportunities of providing these services. The REserviceS study was set up to assess the provision of these grid support services by variable renewables (wind and solar PV) themselves, to contribute to the design of ancillary services market mechanisms that would enable the power systems in Europe to function safely, reliably and cost-efficiently with very high shares of variable renewables. The study - carried out by the REserviceS consortium including renewable energy industries, research institutes and DSOs - has focused on wind and solar PV because these are expected to jointly produce the lion's share of renewable electricity production needed to reach the EU's 2020 targets. Intermediate results of the study have been discussed with European TSOs/DSOs and policy makers and their feedback is integrated in the study findings.