ABB Advances Power System Simulation Models to Support Grid Compliance
ABB has introduced significant advancements to the power simulation models for its ABB UNITROL 1000 Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR), enabling superior simulation accuracy and usability for optimizing system performance and compliance. AVRs play a vital role in managing the voltage output of a synchronous generator, ensuring a fast and accurate response to load variations and keeping voltage levels within the required range.
Beyond steady-state control, AVRs like ABB’s UNITROL 1000 are also critical in responding to grid instability and electrical faults, helping to maintain systems and protect both the generator and the grid whenever it is challenged by increasing complexity.
The ABB UNITROL 1000 range of AVRs has also successfully renewed its German Grid Code component certification in compliance with VDE-AR-N 4110 and VDE-AR-N 4120 standards. This certification demonstrates ABB’s continued commitment to supporting its customers and partners with reliable, grid-compliant excitation systems that minimize the effort and complexity around the grid code compliance process.
Simplifying grid code compliance through certified components
The component certification for VDE-AR-N 4110 and 4120 standards guarantees that power generation units and plants meet grid connection regulations, while aligning with European Union Network Codes (NC RfG 2016). These standards ensure integration into both the national and EU-wide interconnected power grid, supporting stability, efficiency and compliance with international energy regulations.
“The ABB UNITROL 1000 series was the first automatic voltage regulator to achieve full compliance with the German grid code in 2019,” said Werner Pretorius, Global Product Manager for UNITROL 1000 at ABB’s Energy Industries division. “This certification awarded by TÜV NORD certification body is subject to regular renewal and underscores ABB’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the UNITROL 1000 series remains ahead of evolving market and regulatory requirements. We are excited to achieve the renewal of the certification and to introduce at the same time new highly accurate simulation models. Our commitment to innovation and excellence continues to drive us forward, ensuring our customers receive the best possible solutions for their power systems.”
Strengthening power grid stability and resilience with accurate simulation models
The demand for accurate and validated power system simulation models has grown significantly – particularly in regions with high renewable energy penetration such as Europe and Australia. Unreliable models can undermine power system planning, lead to inefficient operations and increase the risk of grid instability and large-scale outages. ABB UNITROL 1000 excitation is engineered to deliver precise and dynamic voltage control with high reliability, making it essential for stable, efficient and resilient power generation.
“ABB’s newly released simulation models are designed to support plant owners, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), certifiers, and power system consultants with reliable digital representations (digital twins) of the UNITROL 1000 to help predict system behavior across a range of scenarios, improving both operational planning and decision-making,” said Filipa Augusto Marques, Regional Sales Manager, Power Reliability Solutions at ABB’s Energy Industries division. “Each model has been rigorously benchmarked against the certified DIgSILENT PowerFactory model to ensure exceptional fidelity and consistency and are crucial to key applications such as network connection studies, performance assessments, and regulatory compliance.”
ABB UNITROL 1000 now includes user-defined models in the following simulation platforms:
For more information, go here.
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