The ongoing energy transition reshapes the dynamics of power grids by introducing new categories of actors. An important example are grid-forming inverters (GFIs) that are employed to enhance grid stability.

This talk delves into the urgent and complex task of understanding the collective behavior and stability of future grids that are characterized by a heterogeneous mix of dynamics.

Recent advancements have significantly improved our ability to describe modern power grid dynamics. Firstly, the development of the normal form for grid-forming actors offers a technology-neutral framework to describe the dynamics of GFIs. Secondly, the concept of complex frequency facilitates a seamless depiction of the impact of the nodal dynamics on power flows within the grid.

This presentation's primary focus is on demonstrating the synergy of the normal form and complex frequency in unraveling the inherent adaptive nature of power grids. We unveil a simple yet universal equation governing the collective dynamics. Remarkably, this equation is expressed solely through a matrix of complex couplings and is devoid of the network topology. These complex couplings enable a novel adaptive network formulation of power grids.

Finally, we present recent validation results of the normal form through system identification and show its accuracy in modeling a broad range of GFIs. These validations encompass laboratory measurements and simulation data. This success underscores the success of our adaptive approach in power grid modeling.