Why inverters hold the key to a more resilient energy future with Daniel Duckwitz (SMA)

Jul 3, 2025

Daniel Duckwitz, Product Manager for Grid Services at SMA Solar Technology AG, shares his expertise on the transformative role of inverters in energy systems. He explains the crucial differences between grid-forming and grid-following inverters and their impact on grid stability. The conversation highlights the importance of inertia and innovation in inverter technology as we shift to a renewable-based grid. Duckwitz also discusses the benefits of grid-forming inverters in Australia and their potential to enhance the resilience of power systems amidst increasing reliance on renewables.

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INSIGHT

Grid-Forming Inverters Define Grid Stability

Grid-forming inverters provide a steady reference for grid frequency and voltage, forming the overall grid strength.
They can instantly adjust output to balance power during system disturbances, unlike grid-following inverters which only follow set power points.

INSIGHT

Synthetic Inertia Replaces Conventional Inertia

Systems with high renewable penetration eventually lack traditional inertia provided by conventional generators.
Grid-forming inverters offer synthetic inertia to maintain system stability as conventional plants phase out.

INSIGHT

Inertia Requires Short-Term Power Reserve

Grid-forming inverters provide a short-term power reserve beyond their rated power to deliver inertia.
This reserve is typically 30-40% extra power available for about five seconds, which is manageable for batteries.

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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.

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