In the context of the gridThe electrical grid is a vast, interconnected network compri..., it refers to the energy stored in the rotating machinery of generators, such as the turbines of a gas plant or hydropower station.
The turbines rotate at the same rate as the grid–60 cycles per second (hertz) in the United States–and help provide stability for the grid, particularly during spikes in powerThe rate of transfer of energy. It's essentially how quickly... demand or other disturbances. If the power plant goes offline for any reason, the inertia of the turbines maintains the grid’s frequencyElectricity is supplied to homes and businesses in the Unite... for a window of time while another power source is brought online to replace the offline generator.
Certain types of renewable energy, such as wind and solar photovoltaicThe conversion of light into electricity at the junction of ..., do not use rotational generators, instead using electronic inverters. But these renewable technologies include electronic sensors that can respond to changes in frequency quickly, and can replace the need for rotational inertia.Synthetic inertia – Inertia provided without synchronous generators and refers to the transfer of active powerAlso known as real or true power, is the portion of electric... into the grid from a grid-forming inverterTechnology that provides the interface between the grid and .... This type of inertia can provide the same, or even better, stabilization services as traditional inertia because it has an instantaneous effect.
