Grid Codes in Transition: Responding to an Evolving Power System

Seminar abstract:

The transition toward a more sustainable and increasingly electrified energy system is fundamentally changing the way power systems are designed and operated. As more renewable power plants seek connection to the grid, while HVDC interconnectors and other power-electronic technologies become increasingly prominent, the European power system is gradually shifting from one dominated by traditional synchronous generation toward one with a significantly higher share of converter-interfaced resources.

This transition introduces new technical challenges for both system operators and grid-connected assets. To ensure that the power system remains stable, secure, and reliable, European system operators continuously develop and update their grid codes and connection requirements. These requirements define how generating units, power parks, HVDC systems, and other grid-connected technologies are expected to behave under both normal operating conditions and during disturbances.

In this seminar, we will explore these evolving requirements from a power system analysis perspective. You can expect us to discuss some of the technical challenges encountered when demonstrating grid-code compliance, and how we at Hitachi supports customers with the grid connection process. We will also bring up some reference cases, demonstrating how a typical power-system consulting project can look like in practice, and what you can expect when you begin working within the industry.

Speaker Bios:

Anton ter Vehn graduated from KTH in 2019 as an electrical engineer and have since been working across multiple different industries and fields. From ABB as a trainee, to KTH as a PhD student and for the last couple of years at Hitachi Energy. At Hitachi Power Consulting, Anton has been working on studies related to grid connections, lead business developments towards new customer areas and worked as a team lead for our consulting unit based in Stockholm. Acting as a small unit within Hitachi, Power Consulting work independently with the early engagement with customers, helping them achieve an effective and smooth grid connection process, by performing system design and providing advisory services.

Hamid Reza Shabani received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Power Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2021. He also worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Aalborg University (AAU Energy), where he focused on time-domain modeling and simulation of wind and solar power plants for a Power-to-X project. He is currently working as a Power System Engineer at Hitachi Energy, performing dynamic and transient studies for power-from-shore and HVDC projects, including load flow, short-circuit, harmonic perturbation, and electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies. In addition, he has worked as a Technical Engineer responsible for preparing requirement specifications for HVDC equipment supply.