In a significant development for the power grid, the first artificial short-circuit test for a grid-forming energy storage system has been successfully concluded in Heilongjiang Province.
The test was carried out at the Zitong Wind Farm in Duobaoshan Town, Nenjiang City. This landmark verification was organized and executed by the State Grid Heilongjiang Electric Power Research Institute.
Why the Duobaoshan project is a benchmark
The Duobaoshan initiative stands as Heilongjiang's premier integrated model project, combining mining operations, wind and solar power generation, and smelting loads. Located in a remote northern area of the province, it represents a classic scenario of a weak grid with a high penetration of new energy sources. The on-site grid-forming energy storage system is tasked with multiple critical functions: balancing new energy consumption, enhancing the regional short-circuit ratio, providing voltage and inertia support to the grid, and improving overall grid stability.
Focus of the groundbreaking test
The subject of this pioneering artificial short-circuit test was a 30 MW / 60 MWh grid-forming energy storage system developed by Nari-Relays. This system is not only the first of its kind to be deployed and operational in Heilongjiang but also the first to be constructed in support of a new energy power station within the province.
Meticulous preparation through simulation
In preparation for the live test, the technical team from State Grid Heilongjiang Electric Power Research Institute conducted multiple rounds of comprehensive electromagnetic transient simulations. The team constructed a detailed, full-station and cluster-level electromagnetic simulation model. This model accurately represented the entire test setup, incorporating the grid-forming energy storage system, wind turbines, static var generators (SVGs), and the static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) configured at adjacent wind farms, based on the actual grid topology.
During the simulation phase, the team thoroughly considered the reactive power response characteristics of various equipment under fault conditions and the electrical coupling effects across different power stations. This allowed for precise prediction of fault impact currents, system voltage dips, and the transient response characteristics of all power electronic devices involved.
Execution and validation of the field trial
For the on-site experiment, the technical team established seven testing points at the 110 kV Zitong Wind Farm. They synchronously collected comprehensive data—including voltage, current, and power—throughout the entire artificial short-circuit process, creating a complete record. Following the test, engineers meticulously compared and verified the field-measured data against the pre-test simulation results. The analysis confirmed that the actual measured waveforms closely matched the curves obtained from the electromagnetic simulation calculations.
Significance of the successful test
The successful completion of this grid-forming energy storage artificial short-circuit test provides further validation of the system's capability to support the grid during fault events. Moreover, it offers crucial engineering practice and evidence to support the future large-scale application of grid-forming energy storage technology in scenarios with high proportions of integrated renewable energy.