Historically, most transmission-connected power plants in the United States have been natural gas, coal, nuclear, and hydropower. These synchronous generators typically support grid reliability and stability by providing voltage support, frequency response, inertia, and other services to the grid. Over the last decade, the number of transmission-connected inverter-based resources (IBRs), which include solar, wind, and battery energy storage, has grown rapidly, presenting new challenges to grid reliability and stability.
This article discusses IBRs, including grid-following and grid-forming inverters, and provides important considerations for co-ops when deciding whether this technology could be beneficial for their systems.
