New White Paper explores the technology mix needed to keep a renewable grid secure
A new White Paper from the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub and research partners examines how electricity system stability must evolve as inverter-based technologies replace traditional generators, outlining the technical, regulatory and operational questions that must be resolved to maintain reliable power during the renewable transition.
A new White Paper released by the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub’s Electrification and Energy Systems Network, the UNSW Energy Institute and the University of Wollongong examines how Australia’s electricity system must adapt as coal-fired generation retires and renewable energy technologies expand.
The report, Securing Power Systems in the Renewable Revolution, brings together industry, academic and government perspectives to identify the technical, economic and regulatory issues that must be addressed to maintain system security, reliability and affordability as the grid changes.
From mechanical inertia to digital control
Historically, power system stability has relied on large spinning generators in coal-fired power stations, which provided inertia, fault response and coordination across the network. As these generators exit the system, those functions must increasingly be delivered by inverter-based renewable energy resources and new technologies.
UNSW Professor and AGL non-executive director Mark Twidell, a White Paper co-author, said the shift represents a structural change in how the network operates. “We’re moving from a system governed by physical properties to one controlled by software and power electronics,” he said. “That’s effectively an analogue-to-digital transformation of the network.”
The report notes that inverter-based resources respond differently to disturbances compared with traditional generators, raising questions about how existing protection systems and operational practices will function as renewable penetration grows.
Managing uncertainty and testing future systems
Renewables already supply 70–80 per cent of electricity at certain times in Australia without compromising security, but the paper states that operating a high-renewables grid continuously, across seasons and extreme conditions, introduces new operational uncertainties.
To address these challenges, the report calls for expanded testing, validation and simulation capabilities, including the use of digital twins and real-time simulation environments that allow future grid configurations to be evaluated before deployment.
The authors also highlight the importance of collaboration across industry, academia and government to share operational data and improve understanding of inverter performance during disturbances.
The search for the right technology mix
Maintaining the grid’s frequency stability — sometimes described as its “heartbeat” — is a central issue as traditional synchronous generators retire. Technologies such as synchronous condensers can provide mechanical inertia, but the report notes they are costly and can take time to install, while availability is limited internationally.
Researchers are examining whether grid-forming inverters, capable of actively regulating voltage and frequency, can take on a greater share of these functions. The White Paper concludes that long-term system stability is likely to rely on a combination of technologies rather than a single solution.
“At some point we have to ask whether we’re still connecting new things to a legacy grid, or whether the new things are the grid,” said co-author Ty Christopher, Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong.
Regulation and industry engagement
According to the authors, the White Paper aims to support decision-makers across the energy sector by outlining the key questions that must be resolved as Australia transitions to a highly renewable electricity system while maintaining reliable supply.
The report also raises questions about whether existing technical standards and regulatory frameworks are suited to a network dominated by inverter-based resources. It proposes developing a shared evidence base and coordinated research agenda to inform future policy and regulatory reforms.
To discuss the findings, industry experts will convene at a webinar on 19 February hosted by The Energy, examining topics including grid-forming battery projects, synthetic inertia technologies and regulatory approaches for a digital electricity system.
