Strategic role of new power generation assets for the security of the future Italian power system

The Italian power system is going to undergo a period of crucial changes linked with the implementation of the targets established in the new National Energy Strategy (SEN, 2017) and in the Energy and Climate Integrated National Plan (PNIEC, January 2019). This study aims to analyze the capacity of the Italian power system to withstand frequency perturbations considering different futures scenarios. Specifically two analyses have been performed: 1) the minimum requirements of inertia are checked against the limits defined by ENTSO-E (based on both measured data and future scenarios about the Italian power system); 2) transient stability simulations of the Sicilian power systems are performed under disturbances due to the losing of the connection with the continental grid (based on measured data, scenarios with different percentage of RES generation). Final considerations about the usefulness of conventional capacity for an adequate coverage of electricity demand (foreseen by the PNIEC), as well as, for the regulation of frequency are drawn.