Fast Response ancillary services (FRAS)

Salient Point of FRAS

 Fast Response ancillary services (FRAS) provided by storage and pondage hydro for

providing frequency regulation services. Reservoir based stations should be given priority

in despatch over pondage based stations.

 It will be used only for short duration say 2-3 blocks in a day. Instructions under FRAS

shall be issued as a combination of up and down instructions such that the net energy

during the day due to FRAS will be squared off. No impact on the commercial aspects.

 In Fast Response Ancillary Service manual intervention is required for increasing and

decreasing the load.

 The schedule of the beneficiaries shall not be disturbed in the process of FRAS despatch.

 FRAS schedule shall be issued separately by NLDC for 5 minutes interval and sent to the
hydro generators.
 Mileage at the rate of 10 paise/ Unit is proposed for both increasing and decreasing the
load for the FRAS.
 An incentive scheme linked to the dynamic reactive support from hydro power station
running as synchronous condenser may be consider by appropriate commission.
 The incentive for Black start service may be consider by appropriate commission.
 Fast Response ancillary services (FRAS)

THDC India Limited fully agrees for the introduction of Fast Response Ancillary Services
(FRAS).
Following issues may be considered in respect to implementation of FRAS:
i. In Fast Response Ancillary Service, manual intervention is required for increasing
and decreasing the load. Present provision of RGMO Mode of operation of machine
doesn’t allow manual intervention. Therefore, for implementing the FRAS, machines
are to be taken out of RGMO mode.
ii. Presently, the reactive power exchange by load serving entity with the EHV grid is
priced Rs.13.5 paise/KVarh under grid code. Similar, incentive scheme linked to
hydro power station running as synchronous condenser may also be considered by
appropriate commission.
iii. The incentive for Black start service may be considered by appropriate commission.
iv. Tehri PSP (4X250 MW), which is a part of 2400 MW should also be considered for
operation under FRAS and it may be declared as transmission asset.

(Muhar Mani)
GM(O&M Services)
THDC India Ltd.
1. In Fast Response Ancillary Service manual intervention is required for increasing and
decreasing the load. It would violate the condition of RGMO/Primary response through
Governor.
2. Deviation from the energy given as per schedule; if there is deviation in energy ( ramp
up or ramp down) in a block more than 12% due to FRAS , then how would it will be
compensated?
3. If the net energy during the day due to FRAS doesn’t get squared off, then what mechanism
shall be applied for the deficit /surplus energy in terms of fixed and variable charges?
4. Fact of marginal cost of hydro plant is zero cannot be established, as in the near future
state government may impose the water tax and green energy cess on the
generators/developers.
5. Here in 2.1 illustrates the balance energy (E b), whereas the NLDC should instruct the
generator in terms of load only.
6. The issue of droop setting maybe kept separate from the FRAS, a the droop setting is a part
of the primary response, whereas the FRAS is a mechanism for the fast tertiary response.
7. With the introduction of Primary response, RGMO and RAFS things becoming so hazy for
the generator in terms of the compliance of Grid code and others.
8. NLDC should ensure that generator may be adhered with the scheduled given by NLDC and
there may not be any financial implication to the generator in term of peaking or so+ .
Droop: Percentage drop/ Increase in system frequency which would cause the Generating Unit to
change its output from zero to full load

Example: suppose droop setting is 4%, it means 4%*50 Hz=2Hz

If there is change in frequency 2Hz there will be load change from 0 to 250MW in case of Tehri .

1 Hz change i freq. = 125 MW,

0.1 Hz change in freq. = 12.5 MW

In FGMO (Free Governor Mode Operation), machine operates as per the droop setting.

Primary Frequency response is nothing but the FGMO mode of operation, where machine
operates as per the droop setting. Presently the droop setting is 45 at Tehri and Kotehwar.

In RGMO (Restricted Governor Mode Operation)

The restricted governor mode of operation shall essentially have the following features in (April
2010):

 There should not be any reduction in generation in case of improvement in grid frequency
below 50.2 Hz. ( for example if grid frequency changes from 49.3 to 49.4 Hz. then there
shall not be any reduction in generation). Whereas for any fall in grid frequency,
generation from the unit should increase by 5% limited to 105 % of the MCR of the unit
subject to machine capability.
 After stablisation of frequency around 50 Hz, the CERC may review the above provision
regarding the restricted governor mode of operation and free governor mode of operation
may be introduced.
 All other generating units including the pondage upto 3 hours Gas turbine/Combined Cycle
Power Plants, wind and solar generators and Nuclear Power Stations shall be exempted.
 All Users, SEB,, SLDCs , RLDCs, and NLDC shall take all possible measures to ensure that the
grid frequency always remains within the 49.5 –50.2 Hz band.
 All thermal generating units of 200 MW and above and all hydro units of 10 MW and
above operating at or up to 100% of their Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR) shall
 normally be capable of (and shall not in any way be prevented from) instantaneously
picking up to 105% and 110% of their MCR , respectively, when frequency falls
suddenly. After an increase in generation as above, a generating unit may ramp back to the
original level at a rate of about one percent (1%) per minute, in case continued operation
at the increased level is not sustainable. Any generating unit not complying with the above
requirements, shall be kept in operation (synchronized with the Regional grid) only after
obtaining the permission of RLDC.

Fast Response ancillary services (FRAS)

Salient Point of FRAS

 Fast Response ancillary services (FRAS) provided by storage and pondage hydro for

providing frequency regulation services. Reservoir based stations should be given priority

in despatch over pondage based stations.

 It will be used only for short duration say 2-3 blocks in a day. Instructions under FRAS

shall be issued as a combination of up and down instructions such that the net energy

during the day due to FRAS will be squared off. No impact on the commercial aspects.

 In Fast Response Ancillary Service manual intervention is required for increasing and

decreasing the load.

 The schedule of the beneficiaries shall not be disturbed in the process of FRAS despatch.

 FRAS schedule shall be issued separately by NLDC for 5 minutes interval and sent to the
hydro generators.
 Mileage at the rate of 10 paise/ Unit is proposed for both increasing and decreasing the
load for the FRAS.
 Changes in Grid Code wrt to the RGMO

IEGC April 2010 1ST 2nd amendment 06.01.14 3rd 4th 5th amendment 12.04.17
AMEDMENTS amendment amendment
07.08.15 06.04.16
5.2 (f) i "All thermal generating units of 200 MW and above
Thermal generating and all hydro units of 10 MW and above” shall be
units of 200 MW and substituted with words “All Coal/lignite based
above, thermal generating units of 200 MW and above,
Hydro units of 10 MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine/Combined Cycle
and above generating stations having gas turbines of capacity
more than 50 MW each and all hydro units of 25
MW and above”.
Regulation 5.2(f)(i)(a) of Part 5 the Principal
Regulations, the words "Thermal generating units"
shall be substituted with words "Coal/lignite based
thermal generating units
5.2 (f) ii (a) There should not be any reduction in generation in
There should not be case of improvement in grid frequency to a level
any reduction in below 50.00 Hz. (For example, if grid frequency
generation in case of changes from 49.9 to 49.95 Hz, or from 49.95 to
improvement in grid 49.99 Hz there shall not be any reduction in
frequency below 50.2 generation). For any fall in grid frequency,
Hz. ( for example if generation from the unit should increase as per
grid frequency changes generator droop upto a maximum of 5% of the
from 49.3 to 49.4 Hz. generation subject to ceiling limit of 105% of the
then there shall not be MCR of the unit having regard to machine
any reduction in capability”.
generation).

Whereas for any fall in There should not be any

grid frequency, reduction in generation in
generation from the case of improvement in
unit should increase by grid frequency below
5% limited to 105 % of 50.05 Hz (for example, if
the MCR of the unit grid frequency changes
subject to machine from 49.9 to 49.95 Hz,
capability. there shall not be any
reduction in generation).
For any fall in grid
frequency, generation
from the unit should
increase by 5% limited to
105 % of the MCR of the
unit subject to machine
capability.”
5.2 (m) "49.7-50.2 Hz" shall be
All Users, SEB,, substituted with the words
SLDCs , RLDCs, and and figures "49.90-50.05
NLDC shall take all Hz".
possible measures to
ensure that the grid
frequency always
remains within the
49.5 –50.2 Hz band.
5.2 (j) "particularly when
frequency is falling or is
Except under an below 49.7 Hz" shall stand
emergency, or to deleted.
prevent an imminent
damage to a costly
equipment, no User
shall suddenly reduce
his generating unit
output by more than
one hundred (100)
MW ( 20 MW in case of
NER) without prior
intimation to and
consent of the 36
RLDC, particularly
when frequency is
falling or is below 49.5
Hz.. Similarly, no
User / SEB shall cause
a sudden variation in
its load by more than
one hundred (100
MW) without prior
intimation to and
consent of the RLDC.
5.2 (f) ii (d)
After stablisation of
frequency around 50
Hz, the CERC may
review the above
provision regarding
the restricted governor
mode of operation and
free governor mode of
operation may be
introduced.
5.2 (h) "All coal/lignite based thermal generating units of
200 MW and above, Open Cycle Gas
All thermal generating Turbine/Combined Cycle generating stations
units of 200 MW and having gas turbines of more than 50 MW each and
above and all hydro all hydro units of 25 MW and above operating at or
units of 10 MW and up to 100% of their Maximum Continuous Rating
above operating at or (MCR) shall have the capability of (and shall not in
up to 100% of their any way be prevented from) instantaneously
Maximum Continuous picking up to 105%, 105% and 110% of their MCR,
Rating (MCR) shall respectively, when the frequency falls suddenly.
normally be capable of
(and shall not in any "For the purpose of ensuring primary response,
way be prevented RLDCs/SLDCs shall not schedule the generating
from) instantaneously station or unit(s) thereof beyond exbus generation
picking up to 105% corresponding to 100% of the Installed capacity of
and 110% of their MCR the generating station or unit(s) thereof. The
, respectively, when generating station shall not resort to Valve Wide
frequency falls Open (VWO) operation of units whether running on
suddenly. After an full load or part load, and shall ensure that there is
increase in generation margin available for providing Governor action as
as above, a generating primary response. In case of gas/liquid fuel based
unit may ramp back to units, suitable adjustment in Installed Capacity
the original level at a should be made by RLDCs/SLDCs for scheduling in
rate of about one due consideration of prevailing ambient conditions
percent (1%) per of temperature and pressure vis-à-vis site ambient
minute, in case conditions on which installed capacity of the
continued operation at generating station or unit(s) thereof have been
the increased level is specified: Provided that scheduling of hydro
not sustainable. Any stations shall not be reduced during high inflow
generating unit not period in order to avoid spillage.
complying with the
above requirements,
shall be kept in
operation
(synchronized with the
Regional grid) only
after obtaining the
permission of RLDC.