Researchers from North Carolina State University and Johns
Hopkins University have found that an increase in the use of wind power
generation can make the power grid more fragile and susceptible to disruptions.
But the researchers didn’t just identify the problem – they have also devised a
technique for coordinating wind power generation and energy storage in order to
minimize the potential for such power disruptions.
Typically, the power flowing through the transmission lines
of a power grid suffers from small “oscillations,” or deviations from the norm,
after a disturbance. Generally, these oscillations are mitigated by means of
controllers inside the power generators. However, if the controls are not
strong enough, the oscillations may be “sustained,” reducing the efficiency of
power transfer and posing a threat to the stability of the grid. If not
controlled properly, these oscillations can even lead to widespread power
outages – such as the 1996 blackout that hit the West Coast of the U.S.