  This paper presents the methodology and key results which enabled to
establish the so-called Ancillary Service Matrix (ASM) presenting the ability
to deliver the different ancillary services of each of the 6 demonstrators of
the XFLEX HYDRO research project combined with the applicable technologies
studied in this analysis. These technologies include i) the variable speed
technology with Doubly Fed Induction Machine (DFIM) or Full Size Frequency
Converters (FSFC), ii) the Smart Power Plant Supervisor (SPPS) enabling to
extend the operating range of the hydraulic units in turbine mode based on a
better knowledge of the hydro unit wear and tear and associated costs over the
full unit operating range, iii) the hydraulic short circuit (HSC) operation
leading to simultaneous operation of pump and turbines of Pumped Storage Power
Plants (PSPP) and iv) the Hydro-Battery-Hybrid (HBH) applied at Run-of-River
demonstrator.
  The demonstrators considered for this study includes 4 pumped storage power
plants, 1 conventional hydro storage plant and 1 run-of-the-river plant. For
each demonstrator a 1D simulation model was developed and validated and was
further enhanced to include the model of control system enabling to address the
various ancillary services. The systematic 1D numerical simulation of ancillary
service contribution of each demonstrator and related technologies enabled to
quantify the magnitude of active power response to contribute to the different
grid services. The results have been scored between 0 and 5 for each ancillary
service, allowing to populate the Ancillary Service Matrix which is summarizing
the results in a graphical and synthetic way. The analysis of the score of the
Ancillary Services Matrix enables the reader to draw several key conclusions
about the benefits unlocked by the implementation of these technologies which
are summarized in the paper.
