Coordinated voltage control and management of reactive power are among the most important prerequisites for keeping modern power systems stable. The Norwegian power system faces increasing challenges from inverter-based renewable energy, offshore wind, and ageing grids.
CoordQ aims to
- Coordinated TSO–DSO framework for reactive power to cut losses and improve stability.
- Fleet controllers integrating hydro, wind, solar, batteries, and voltage devices.
- Validation via scenarios, and digital twins with strong cybersecurity.
- Fair pricing models and guidelines to enable market participation
The project builds on results from the SysOpt project, described in this video:
How to prevent power outages?
On 28 April 2025, Spain and Portugal experienced Europe’s largest power outage in recent times. The incident highlights the challenges of lacking voltage support in power systems and the consequences of inadequate management of reactive power.
Before a power outage, voltage usually collapses first, long before the system frequency goes out of control. Both static and dynamic voltage support, as well as sufficient damping of oscillations, are crucial to keeping the voltage in the grid stable. When these safety mechanisms fail, the result can be a widespread power outage.
This shows why future energy systems must have clear grid requirements and well-designed market incentives for system-supporting services, especially as more and more converter-based renewable power is integrated.
Preparing the power system for the future
The CoordQ project addresses this challenge in a Nordic context, where hydropower dominates but the share of converter-based production is steadily increasing. CoordQ focuses on improving the interaction between converter-based technologies, with particular emphasis on reactive power and voltage control. The goal is to make the Nordic power system ready for periods with a very high share of converter-based renewable production.
To achieve this, CoordQ will develop a framework where market mechanisms ensure sufficient system services and optimise voltage support in different regions, so that more renewable energy can flow through the existing grid while minimising grid losses. The concepts will be tested in thorough scenario analyses and prepared for pilot demonstrations.
CoordQ brings together a strong consortium of actors, ranging from power producers and grid owners to regulatory authorities and equipment suppliers. The project is led by academic partners USN and NTNU, and supported by an international advisory panel. In addition, CoordQ collaborates with five national research campuses.
