DIgSILENT has released GridCode 2018. This new major version is available to all our customers with a valid guarantee/maintenance contract.

Major new developments in functionality are focusing on the introduction of network codes drafted by ENTSO-e with guidance from the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACRE) towards harmonization of the market. The published network codes did become regulations, like the “Network Code on Requirements for Generators (RfG)” published on the 14^th April 2016 at the Official Journal of the European Union, under the title and reference: Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 of 14 April 2016 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of generators (Text with EEArelevance).

Generators all over European countries must respect this grid code to connect to the grid. The DIgSILENT team has been tracking the implementation monitoring in the European countries. The following network code drafts are now included in GridCode 2018:

• Germany: Extra-High Voltage Connection Rules VDE AR-N 4120:2017-05 “Technical requirements for the connection and operation of customer installations to the high voltage network (TAR high voltage)”. GridCode includes generators Type 1 and Type 2.
  
• Spain: “Propuesta de modificación de los Procedimientos de Operación P.O. 12.1, y P.O. 12.2, por la implementación del Reglamento UE 2016/631 y del Reglamento UE 2016/1388”, published in March 2018.
  

Most of the countries are working on the definition of procedures for compliance testing and rules verification. As most of the countries are in a very early stage, the verification procedure implemented in GridCode 2018 has been based on the following reference documents:

• “Technische Richtlinien für Erzeugungseinheiten und -anlagen – Teil 3”, Revision 24(01.03.2016), published by the wind working group of the non-profit German platform FGW.
  
• IEC 61400-21:2008 Ed. 2.0 “Wind turbines - Part 21: Measurement and assessment of power quality characteristics of grid connected wind turbines”
  

New grid codes out of the borders of the European area have been added, like the “Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid”, published by the Central ElectricityAuthority (CEA) in India.

DIgSILENT will actively continue supporting former versions of grid codes, for example, German System Service Ordinance (SDLWindV) or the Transmission Code 2007, now updated with the procedure described in the technical guideline TR3 Rev24.

GridCode 2018 also comes with new and improved algorithms to reduce processing and analysis time, verification of compliance for no-load and on-load fault-ride through events (LVRT / HVRT) and new reporting options.

Multi-user licenses are available in GridCode 2018. This Edition is recommended for organisations to manage a group of individual licences. Multiple users can concurrently access the licences via local network.