  Traditionally, power system's inertia has been estimated according to the
rotating masses directly connected to the grid. However, a new generation mix
scenario is currently identified, where conventional supply-side is gradually
replaced by renewable sources decoupled from the grid by electronic converters
(i.e., wind and photovoltaic power plants). Due to the significant penetration
of such renewable generation units, the conventional grid inertia is
decreasing, subsequently affecting both reliability analysis and grid
stability. As a result, concepts such as 'synthetic inertia', 'hidden inertia'
or 'virtual inertia', together with alternative spinning reserves, are
currently under discussion to ensure power system stability and reliability.
Under this new framework, an algorithm to estimate the minimum inertia needed
to fulfil the ENTSO-E requirements for ROCOF values is proposed and assessed
under a relevant variety of imbalanced conditions. The additional active power
needed to be within the frequency dynamic range is also estimated and
determined. Both inertia and additional active power can come from different
sources, such as storage solutions, renewable sources decoupled from the grid
including some frequency control strategies, interconnections with other grids,
or a combination of them. The power system under consideration includes
thermal, hydro-power plants, and renewable generation units, in line with most
current and future European supply-side power systems. More than 700 generation
mix scenarios are identified and simulated, varying the renewable integration,
the power imbalance, and the inertia constant of conventional power plants. In
fact, the solutions studied here provide important information to ease the
massive integration of renewable resources, without reducing the capacity of
the grid in terms of stability and response to contingencies.
