Load Shedding

in Industrial Power Grids

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Section 1
Five Reasons to Implement
a SICAM Load Shedding Solution

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Reason Nr. 1 to implement a SICAM load shedding system:
Sudden, unexpected loss of a power source

Without Load Shedding System With Load Shedding System

Loss of power source Loss of power source

Frequency drop Frequency drop

Fast shedding of unimportant loads

Blackout !!! Blackout will be avoided !!!

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Reason Nr. 2 to implement a SICAM load shedding system:
Mismatch between provided and consumed power (without the loss of a power source)

Without Load Shedding System With Load Shedding System

Frequency
Too high power consumption Too high power consumption

Frequency drop Frequency drop

Generation
Load Generation
Load
Shedding of unimportant loads

Blackout !!! Blackout will be avoided !!!

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Reason Nr. 3 to implement a SICAM load shedding system:
Automatic monitoring of contractual limits

The load shedding function

can predict possible
contractual violations
based on forecasts.

To avoid such violations

the load shedding function
can automatically trip
an appropriate number
of low priority loads.

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Reason Nr. 4 to implement a SICAM load shedding system:
Automatic monitoring of technical limits

Protection relays disconnect entire Load shedding can trip only

transformers/cables/overhead lines the required number of loads

Significant impact on production Much smaller impact on production

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Reason Nr. 5 to implement a SICAM load shedding system:
Support of public grids with low inertia

Generator (with inertia)

 Decreasing number
Public Grids

Public grids will be forced to ask their

Photovoltaic
connected industrial customers for help
 Increasing number
in stabilizing the grid frequency.

Wind
 Increasing number

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Section 2
What you should know about
Frequency Based Load Shedding

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Frequency Based Load Shedding
1. Principle of operation

Main target for industry power grid: Stability of frequency

Insufficient generation  decline of frequency

• Monitoring of predefined frequency stages

• When reaching a stage  shedding of predefined loads

• Restore nominal frequency

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Frequency Based Load Shedding
2. Architecture

4 GOOSE messages
to indicate f violations

f relay Prot. Prot. Prot.

(81u) relay relay relay
To trip coil feeder 1

To trip coil feeder 2

To trip coil feeder x

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Frequency Based Load Shedding
3. Challenges with Frequency Based Load Shedding

Frequency decline:
All consumer will recognize it

Overcompensation:
Shedding too much

Frequency stages:
Low number of priorities

Not to react too fast:

At least 5 complete sine waves selectivity with fast power-based
load shedding frequency drop during start of big loads

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Frequency Based Load Shedding
5. Use cases

A Simple load shedding function to protect the local power grid against a sudden loss of power

B Simple load shedding against lack of power in the local power grid
(e.g. too many consumers at the same time)

C Backup load shedding for Fast Power Based Load Shedding

D Support of the connected public grid in case of lack of power

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Section 3
What you should know about Fast
Power Based Load Shedding

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
1. Principle of operation

Public Grid
Triggered by digital events:
• Trip of circuit breaker (contingency feeder)
• Release of protection relay (contingency feeder)
Industrial Grid

The reaction is pre-calculated based on:

• Grid configuration
• Actual provided power per source
• Actual consumed power per considered load
• Predefined priority of load
• Validity of information
• Ramp-up power and spinning reserve of generators

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
2. System architecture and function

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
3. Integrated load shedding system

Combined use for Substation Advantages:

Automation and Load Shedding of: • Much lower cost (material, engineering,
• HMI space, heat, tests etc.)
• Controller • Better MTBF
• Network • Same look & feel at the combined HMI
• Protection relays and meters • Even 3rd party IEDs can be integrated

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
4. Later extensions

Challenge:
How to assure in an energized plant the correct function of an extended load shedding system?

Two Solutions:
• Simulation of the entire system
(existing + new) in the test lab
• Optional implementation of test
function (“I would have tripped”)
Existing Loads New Loads

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
5. Use cases

a) Sophisticated load shedding function to protect the local power grid against a sudden loss of power
b) By converting other events into a digital event, this load shedding function can be used flexibly

Example:

Prediction
Fast shedding of x MW
of contractual violation

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Section 4
Discussion Points when it comes
to Fast Power Based Load Shedding

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
a) Typical discussion point: Thousands of individual loads

Example from a project:

4000 loads to be considered

Example: Conveyer belt

Trip of only 1 motor

Trip of all 3 motors

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
b) Typical discussion point: Load shedding for EDGs

EDG (Emergency Diesel Generators)  supply power to critical loads

Extreme example: EDG to supply power to the motors of cooling pumps in a nuclear power plant

EDG
Load shedding for M1 to M3

EDG designed to power M1, M2 and M3

M1 M2 M3

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
c) Typical discussion point: GTGs and STG in combined cycle

Air Gas
Combined Cycle
Exhaust
GTG1
Hot steam
STG1
Compressor Turbine
G
Air Gas
Turbine
G
Hot combustion gas
Challenge:
Water
GTG2 Trip of GTG  influences STG
Compressor Turbine
G Condenser

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
d) Typical discussion point: Load shedding execution time

Load Shedding Execution Time =

time from contingency event to
closing trip contact at the load

Example requirement: „Load shedding execution time 1ms“

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
e) Typical discussion point: Extension of existing 3rd party load shedding system

3rd party New

LS controller LS controller

3rd party New

communication communication
network network

3rd party 3rd party New New

IED 1 IED x IED 1 IED y

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
e) Typical discussion point: Reactive load shedding

G G
Example requirement:
The load shedding system has to:
1. Observe the priorities of loads
2. Compensate the lost amount of active power
3. Compensate the lost amount of reactive power

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Fast Power Based Load Shedding
f) Typical discussion point: Generation Shedding

200MW
210MW 50MW
Trip
G G

Load
Shedding ≠ Generation
Shedding

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Section 5
What you should know about Dynamic
Power Based Load Shedding

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Dynamic Power Based Load Shedding
1. Principle of operation

Basic tasks:
• At the HMI the operator can define a power reserve (SR)
Industrial Grid
• The controller permanently monitors the available SR
SR3
• Too low SR  unimportant loads are shed

SR1 SR2 Goal of Dynamic Power Based load Shedding:

Stability in the local grid

SR3  Power reserve, (technical and contractual limits)

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Dynamic Power Based Load Shedding
2. System architecture and function

Since this function

is not very time-critical,
the type of transmission
between the governor
devices and the load
shedding controller
does not matter much.

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Dynamic Power Based Load Shedding
3. Gradual overload

Short Spinning Reserve deficits do not lead to load shedding actions

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Dynamic Power Based Load Shedding
5. Smart monitoring of primary equipment

Protection Relay Dynamic Load Shedding

Loss of entire transformer/line Only reduced number of loads is shed

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Load Shedding
6. Load Inhibition

Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4

Load Shedding System Load Shedding System Load Shedding System Load Shedding System

Individual signals: Individual signals: Individual signals:

„Do not start load 5“ „Do not start load 5“ „Do not start load 5“
Common signal:
and and and
„Do not start additional
„Do not start load 8“ „Do not start load 8“ „Do not start load 8“
loads“
and and and
„Do not start load 19“ „Do not start load 19“ „Do not start load 19“

Individual Feeder +
Process Control Center Process Control Center Individual Feeder
Process Control Center

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Key Take Aways From This Training

In worst case our provided load shedding

execution time is less than 70ms

Even in working plants the SICAM Load Shedding

solution can be extended and tested

SICAM Load Shedding can be integrated

within our standard substation automation system

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Contact
Published by Siemens 2023

Smart Infrastructure
Electrification & Automation
Mozartstraße 31 C
91052 Erlangen
Germany

For the U.S. published by

Siemens Industry Inc.
100 Technology Drive
Alpharetta, GA 30005
United States

© Siemens 2023
Subject to changes and errors. The information given in this
document/video only contains general descriptions and/or
performance features which may not always specifically reflect those
described, or which may undergo modification in the course of further
development of the products. The requested performance features
are binding only when they are expressly agreed upon
in the concluded contract.
All product designations may be trademarks or other rights
of Siemens, its affiliated companies or other companies whose use
by third parties for their own purposes could violate the rights
of the respective owner.

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