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System Operability Framework (SOF)

The System Operability Framework (SOF) takes a holistic view of the changing energy landscape to assess the future operation of Britain's electricity networks. The SOF combines insight from the Future Energy Scenarios with a programme of technical assessments to identify medium-term and long-term requirements for operability.

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Operability Strategy Report 2021

We have updated our Operability Strategy Report which explains the challenges we face in maintaining an operable electricity system, how we are addressing them and how stakeholders can engage. We explain the learnings from the summer and show how our strategy addresses the challenges we faced.

Download PDF

Evolving year-on-year 

Through extensive industry interaction, the SOF evolves year‑on‑year to meet changing operational and stakeholder needs.

Growth of low carbon and renewable generation, closures of conventional thermal power stations and changing interactions across the whole of the power system are just a few of the areas considered in the context of a rapidly changing power system.

Low Demand - Operability Challenges from COVID-19 (Spring and Summer 2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic led to partial or total lockdowns in Great Britain in the spring of 2020, which in turn caused a reduction in electricity demand. This low demand, combined with large renewable output at times, resulted in a high penetration of non-synchronous machines on the system. This combination led to challenges with demand forecasting and maintaining flexibility for system integrity, voltage profiles and system stability. This paper provides a brief on the challenges in 2020 which National Grid ESO faced, the measures applied to tackle the challenges and the work we will look to carry out to improve the system operability in the future.

Download document

The potential operability benefits of Virtual Synchronous Machines and related technologies

We at National Grid ESO are always looking at ways to enable new technologies to connect to the network in the most safe, secure and efficient manner. This report discusses how new technologies can support system stability by adopting Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) technologies and associated control approaches which will enable transition to a zero carbon system.

Download document

Operability Impact of Distributed Storage and Electric Vehicles

The high penetration of these devices would alter the demand seen by ESO control centre and impact the system operability. With appropriate market and framework design, storage and electric vehicles will be able to support electricity system operation and be enablers to the decarbonization transition.

Download the operability impact of distributed storage and electric vehicles document

Operating a Low Inertia System

We are always looking at how to best operate the network, as we see reductions in system inertia. We have processes in place for managing each operability challenge. We are already looking to address the future challenges we see ahead of us as we transition to a zero carbon system.

Download the operating a low inertia system document

Past Frequency Events

We control frequency by balancing electricity supply and demand. Occasionally we see a large loss of generation or demand which can cause a swing in system frequency. This report provides the brief summary of significant frequency events which has previously been provided in the System Incident report to the Grid Code Review Panel.

Download the past frequency events document

Impact of declining short circuit levels

We are identifying and quantifying system requirements which are affected by reductions in Short Circuit Level and we share some of our work in this document.

Download the Impact of declining SCLs document

Whole system short circuit level

Short circuit levels on the distribution networks are increasing driven by the growth in distributed generation and demand. This report looks at how these two trends interact and their net effect on the whole system.

Download the whole system SCL document

Regional Trends and Insights

Changes in the generation and demand are effecting how the power system is operated on a regional basis.

Find out about our latest analysis by downloading the report.

Download the regional trends and insights document

Voltage and Frequency Dependency 

Traditionally, voltage and frequency have been treated independently when considering operability. In the future, they will interact more.

Find out about our latest analysis by downloading the report.

Download the voltage and frequency document

Future of Energy updates

Subscribe to our mailing list and we'll let you know as soon as we publish any of our future of energy documents.

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SOF Contact

  • sof@nationalgrideso.com

Past SOF documents

Operability Strategy ReportMarch 2018 EventSOF 2017 SOF 2016SOF 2015SOF 2014

Operability Strategy Report

Name Sort descending
Operability Strategy Report 2018
Operability Strategy Report 2019 update
Operability Strategy Report 2020
Operability Strategy Report 2021
4

March 2018 Event

Name Sort descending
2017 SOF Reports Poster
Fault Levels Poster
Industry Code Developments Poster
March 2018 Event Masterpack
PLL Poster
Upcoming SOF Reports Poster
6

SOF 2017

Name Sort descending
Black start from distributed sources
Low Frequency Demand Disconnection
Performance of Phase-locked Loop based converters
Solar eclipse 2026 - July 2017
4

SOF 2016

Published Sort ascending Name
3 Jan 2017SOF 2016 - Data Tables
30 Nov 2016SOF 2016 - Full Non-interactive Document
30 Nov 2016SOF 2016 - Full Interactive Document
27 Sep 2016SOF 2016 - September Post-assessment Webinar
12 Sep 2016SOF 2016 - Launch Event Slides - Key Messages and Insights
27 Jul 2016SOF 2016 - July Mid-assessment Webinar
6 Jul 2016SOF 2016 - May Pre-assessment Webinar
7

SOF 2015

Published Sort ascending Name
30 Nov 2015SOF 2015 - Summary
30 Nov 2015SOF 2015 - Full Document
12 Jan 2015SOF 2015 - Launch Event Slides
3

SOF 2014

Published Sort ascending Name
9 Oct 2014SOF 2014 - Full Document
1
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