Mystery of 60-Second Fluctuations in Power Grids Solved

A team of researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich, led by Dirk Witthaut, has discovered that 60-second fluctuations in European power grids are caused by regular power checks carried out by large-scale battery storage systems. The team found that these systems, which have increased significantly worldwide in recent years, check their state of charge every minute, leading to measurable fluctuations in electricity consumption. This can contribute to turbine wear and tear. The phenomenon was observed by Tennet Germany, the largest transmission system operator in Germany, and is a global issue, not limited to Europe. The researchers believe that their findings could help make the electricity supply more robust. The team, which included researchers from the University of Cologne and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, used years of detective work and found that the grid frequency pattern is shaped by many factors, including electricity trading, renewable energy sources, and other disturbances.