High frequency deviations within the European Power System: Origins and proposals for improvement

Since the deregulation of the electrical energy market, the technical realisation of power transactions based on energy market contracts often effects large stepwise power programme changes - especially at the change of the hour. Originating from the current market boundaries and system rules, these stepwise power programme changes lead to remarkable power imbalances within the European Power System causing large unintended frequency deviations with a negative impact on the control performance of power plants and power system. Within the framework of this paper, a cause study to establish an understanding of the origins of the power imbalances is presented. Subsequently, counteractive measures for an improvement of the performance of scheduled stepwise power programme changes are proposed.