Science

Next-Gen Hitachi Inverter to Support Power Grid Stability

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. (HIES) has begun operating a next-generation power conditioner called a Grid Forming Inverter (GFM), at its Narashino Works facility in Chiba Prefecture. This cutting-edge system helps stabilize electric power systems as global transition to renewable energy, by simulating the stabilizing effects once provided by large power plants. As renewable energy becomes a bigger part of the power mix, older systems that relied on heavy rotating generators are retiring, but they also provided valuable "inertia" that kept the grid stable during power fluctuation between demand and supply. GFM technology helps recreate inertia, supporting a reliable power supply for the future. Electricity must be supplied at a stable frequency to keep our power systems running smoothly -typically at 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Traditionally, large power…