From Steam Locomotives to Motorcycles — Challenges and Opportunities in Island Grid Transition

Chris Kimmett, COO of Reactive Technologies

In the global wave of energy transition, grid stability and resilience have emerged as critical factors in achieving renewable energy targets. As vast amounts of renewable energy are integrated into the grid, balancing stable power supply and dispatch becomes increasingly complex—and grid "inertia" is at the heart of this challenge.

"Traditional grids are like steam locomotives. Every generator is equipped with a large turbine—heavy and inherently stable. Just as a steam train finds it difficult to change direction once in motion, a traditional grid maintains a steady state," explains Chris Kimmett, COO of Reactive Technologies, using a vivid analogy."In stark contrast, grids dominated by wind and solar no longer burn fuel and lack the support of heavy turbines. This makes the system lighter, but also more vulnerable to disturbances—much like riding a motorcycle: agile but unstable. Consequently, control centers must perform more balancing work and deploy faster-reacting battery systems to maintain stability."

He further elaborates with another analogy:"Consider a gyroscope—a heavy one, once spinning, can maintain stability for a long time, much like nuclear or coal-fired power plants that possess significant inertia. Renewable energy systems, on the other hand, resemble a light gyroscope that wobbles and requires continuous adjustment to stay balanced."

The Challenge of Grid Transition: Special Considerations for Island Systems

"Ultimately, it's all about stability," Chris asserts. The challenge today is how to maintain short-term stability as we shift from traditional, heavy grid systems to lighter, more agile renewable energy systems.

He draws a parallel with bicycles:"Imagine riding a heavy bicycle versus a light one. A heavy bicycle, thanks to its inertia, is easier to balance; a light bicycle, however, demands constant adjustments from the rider to prevent imbalance. This is precisely the situation we face now."

This analogy encapsulates the essence of grid inertia—high variability and agility—which, as the share of renewable energy increases, necessitates more refined regulation and significant resource investment in grid management.

Grid operators' foremost responsibility is ensuring uninterrupted power supply. In Taiwan, for instance, Taipower is entrusted with this critical duty. Yet, as the grid evolves from a traditional heavy system to a light renewable-based system, operators confront a dual challenge:
"On one hand, reduced inertia makes the system more sensitive to supply-demand fluctuations or localized outages; on the other, weather-induced variability intensifies overall instability," Chris explains.

Unlike mainland-connected countries such as Portugal or Denmark, which can rely on external grid inertia, island nations like the United Kingdom (even with partial DC interconnections that do not share inertia) and Taiwan must resolve these stability issues independently. This means that before Taiwan can achieve a 100% renewable energy target, it must invest considerably more in resources and technology to address its unique grid challenges.

"We have been operating for over ten years, consistently focused on developing breakthrough grid technologies," says Chris. "Our journey can be divided into three phases: the first was research and development, during which we invested heavily to explore innovative technologies; the second involved field deployment in the UK market; and now, we are entering a global expansion phase, establishing partnerships with multiple countries—including Taiwan."

Much of Reactive Technologies' success stems from its unique team composition."Our team comprises two key segments: our UK team brings deep expertise in the power industry, while our Finnish technical team—mostly former Nokia employees—is specialized in communications technology, digital signal processing, big data, and cloud computing. This cross-disciplinary blend has enabled us to achieve groundbreaking advancements in measuring grid inertia."

Measurement: The Foundation of a New Grid System

Discussing the company's core technology, Chris emphasizes the pivotal role of measurement:"Measurement is the foundation for organizing new grid systems. Without precise measurement, we can only estimate the grid's inertia, which is detrimental to making informed management decisions."

He elaborates that while traditional heavy grid systems generally offer higher safety margins, light systems necessitate significant investment in new technologies—such as synchronous condensers or advanced battery systems—to maintain balance.

"We always stress: measure first, then manage. This principle applies not only to grid operations but also to all areas of sustainable development—whether managing carbon emissions or water resource consumption, precise measurement is indispensable."

With fundamental shifts in economic and policy environments, the pace of renewable energy deployment will accelerate. Although the transition in the UK may seem rapid, in reality, it has been unfolding over decades.

"In the future, as the renewable energy share increases from 40% to 50%, 60%, or even 70%, each additional percentage point will make maintaining grid stability even more challenging, because we are moving from a heavy, stable system to a very light one."

Grid operators must know precisely how many batteries are required, where they should be located, and how to react under different conditions.

"Accurate measurement enables us to make better predictions and scenario analyses, thereby preventing potential blackouts or power outages—a critical factor in ensuring overall energy security."

Historically, energy security focused primarily on natural gas supplies. However, as renewable energy becomes mainstream—and with these resources entirely under our control, free from international market volatility—they are increasingly recognized as the safest, most environmentally friendly, and most cost-effective option.

Grid operation is not just about generation and supply; it encompasses balancing the entire grid system across various time scales. Comprehensive, systemic thinking is essential—beyond generation capacity, effective distribution and management ensure that all produced electricity reaches end users. Every link in the chain, from measurement to prediction to scenario analysis, is interdependent and indispensable.

For instance, Chris notes:"Each synchronous condenser costs approximately USD 30 million. Consultants might tell you today that your grid only needs three, but a few months later, the number might jump to eight—a huge leap in investment. Without sufficient data, these decisions could easily be wrong. This is why investing in knowledge acquisition through precise measurement is so critical."

He adds, "We have been in dialogue with Taipower for over five years. Taipower's proactive approach—deploying measurement systems well in advance so that they understand grid behavior even before offshore wind power development—will be crucial for further enhancing system stability."

The grid transformation represents a comprehensive, systemic revolution. Only by accurately assessing the current state of the grid and gaining deep insights into its behavior can the right management and investment strategies be formulated. As a pioneer in the energy transition, Taiwan is proactively deploying technology and management measures in collaboration with partners such as Reactive Technologies, laying a solid foundation for a safer, more stable, and highly efficient grid for the future. Pictured on the left is David Sterling, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Reactive Technologies.

UK Innovations and Future Collaboration Prospects

In partnership with the UK National Grid, Chris shares a breakthrough achievement:"We have established the world's largest continuously operating supercapacitor system in the UK. This system sends 22,000 energy pulses to the grid daily and collects millions of frequency measurement data points. With this data, we can accurately inform grid operators of the current energy content, allowing them to balance the grid more effectively across different time scales."

Looking ahead, Chris expresses strong confidence in future collaboration with Taipower:"Taipower's proactive stance and forward-looking investments in this field will provide a solid foundation for Taiwan's energy transition."

Grid transformation is a comprehensive systemic overhaul. Only by accurately measuring the current state of the grid and deeply understanding its behavior can we devise the right management and investment strategies. As a pioneer in energy transition, Taiwan—through partnerships with companies like Reactive Technologies—is proactively deploying advanced technologies and management measures to lay the groundwork for a safer, more stable, and efficient grid in the future.