As we shift toward a net-zero power system, inverter-based resources are rapidly replacing traditional generators.
But replicating the critical system services once provided by large rotating machines isn’t just about plugging in renewables - it’s about designing smarter, more stable infrastructure at the grid edge.
In this episode of Transmission, we dive into one of the most technically important, yet often overlooked, aspects of modern power systems: the role of inverters. Ed Porter is joined by Daniel Duckwitz, who leads SMA’s global grid stability portfolio, to unpack the differences between grid-forming and grid-following inverters and why that distinction matters more than ever.
This episode covers:
- What grid-forming inverters actually do and why they’re crucial for system strength and inertia replacement.
- How grid-forming requirements differ across global markets, and where the industry is heading.
- The role of inverter controls in stabilising power systems with high renewables.
- What makes grid-following and grid-forming inverters technically distinct and what’s just marketing.
- Why transitioning to a 100% inverter-based grid is both possible and already underway.
Whether you're an engineer working on battery integration, a policymaker shaping grid code, or just trying to understand how inverters affect system resilience, this conversation is packed with insight into one of the most transformative shifts in power system design.
About our guest
Dr. Daniel Duckwitz is the Product Manager for Grid Services at SMA Solar Technology AG, where he leads the development of large-scale stability applications. His work focuses on optimizing battery energy storage systems (BESS) to provide critical grid services such as inertia, short-circuit current, and system restoration through advanced grid-forming technology.
For more information on what Daniel and SMA do, head to the website. https://www.sma.de/en/company/about-sma
About Modo Energy
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.
All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.
