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At least 1,441 records · Page 80

Providing Ancillary Services with Photovoltaic Generation in Multi-Timescale Grid Operation: Preprint

With photovoltaic (PV) generation substantially increases, electric power systems need more flexible resources that can provide ancillary services to mitigate the variability and uncertainty of the PV generation. On the one hand, the increase of PV generation necessitates the needs of more flexible resources. On the other hand, PV generation, because of its low operation cost, has been replacing the conventional generation in the system which is the main flexible resources in the current system. Consequently, there is a trend to require the renewable generation including PV to provide flexible ancillary services to further accommodate more PV integration. This paper proposes a multi-timescale grid operation model considering the various control strategies of PV providing different ancillary services. Numerical case studies demonstrate that with PV providing both regulation reserve and primary frequency reserve, the system operating costs and PV curtailment will be reduced significantly. It shows that not only the system reliability but also PV's profitability can be improved with PV providing more ancillary services.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

Substation-Level Grid Topology Optimization Using Bus Splitting: Preprint

Operations of substation circuit breakers are of high significance for performing system maintenance and topology optimization. Bus splitting is one type of topology changes where the two bus-bars at a substation become electrically disconnected after certain actions of circuit breakers. As these events involve detailed substation modeling, they are not typically considered in power system routine operation and control. In this paper, an improved substation-level topology optimization is developed by expanding traditional line switching with breaker-level bus splitting, which can further reduce grid congestion and generation costs. A tight McCormick relaxation is proposed to reformulate the bi-linear terms in the resultant topology optimization model. Thus, a tractable mixed-integer linear program formulation is presented which can be efficiently solved for real-time control. Numerical studies on the IEEE 14-bus and 118-bus systems demonstrate the performance and economic benefits of the proposed topology optimization approach.

bus split↗

Storage Futures Study: Grid Operational Impacts of Widespread Storage Deployment

This report, the fifth in the Storage Futures Study series, uses cost-driven scenarios from the ReEDS model as a starting point to examine the operational impacts of grid-scale storage deployment and relationships between this deployment and the contribution of variable renewable energy. We use commercial production cost modeling software to evaluate hourly operation of five scenarios that reach between 210 gigawatts (GW) and 930 GW of installed storage by 2050. We find that storage plays an important role in these power systems between now and 2050 - by storing the lowest-marginal cost generation (often, overgeneration from solar or wind plants) and generating energy during the highest net load periods of the day and year. Storage helps with the integration of variable renewable energy and by providing an important resource to provide continued reliable power.

battery↗

Scalable Predictive Control and Optimization for Grid Integration of Large-Scale Distributed Energy Resources: Preprint

Integration of a large number of distributed energy resources (DERs) into the power grid needs a scalable power balancing method. We formulate the power balancing problem as a look-ahead optimization problem to be solved sequentially by a power distribution system aggregator based on a model predictive control (MPC) framework. Solving large-scale look-ahead control problem requires proper configuration of the control steps. In this paper, to solve large-scale control problems, we propose a variable time granularity where control time steps nearby the current control step have finer resolutions. The aggregator objective includes maximization of power production revenue and minimization of power purchasing expense, renewable power curtailment, and mileage costs for energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations while satisfying system capacity and operational constraints. The control problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) and solved using the XpressMP solver. We perform simulations considering a copper plate representation of a large distribution network consisting of 2507 devices (controllable DERs) including curtailable photovoltaics (PVs), energy storage batteries, EV charging stations, and buildings with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units (HVACs). We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach in managing DERs interactively for maximum energy trading profit and local supply-demand power balancing. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperformed other benchmark controllers regarding computation time without compromising operational performance.

DER↗

Grid-Forming Wind Power

This presentation is a summary of research conducted by NREL team in the area of developing and testing grid forming controls by wind power.

grid forming↗

PR100: Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transition to 100% Renewable Energy: Preventing and Responding to Extreme Events

This presentation discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Maria's landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. Maria incapacitated Puerto Rico's power systems, leaving the entire island without electricity and access to fresh water. Some parts are still recovering years later. A resilient electric grid is vital to Puerto Rico's security, economy, and way of life.

demand impacts↗

Scalable Predictive Control and Optimization for Grid Integration of Large-Scale Distributed Energy Resources

Integrating a large number of distributed energy resources (DERs) into the power grid needs a scalable power balancing method. We formulate the power balancing problem as a look-ahead optimization problem to be solved sequentially by a power distribution system aggregator based on a model predictive control (MPC) framework. Solving large-scale look-ahead control problems requires proper configuration of the control steps. In this paper, to solve large-scale control problems, we propose a variable time granularity where control time steps nearby the current control step have finer resolutions. The aggregator objective includes maximization of power production revenue and minimization of power purchasing expense, renewable power curtailment, and mileage costs for energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations while satisfying system capacity and operational constraints. The control problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) and solved using the XpressMP solver. We perform simulations considering a copper plate representation of a large distribution network consisting of 2507 devices (controllable DERs), including curtailable photovoltaics (PVs), energy storage batteries, EV charging stations, and buildings with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units (HVACs). We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach in managing DERs interactively for maximum energy trading profit and local supply-demand power balancing. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other benchmark controllers regarding computation time without compromising operational performance.

DER↗

Quantifying the Value of Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings through Field Study: Preprint

Quantifying the annual energy impacts of efficient technologies in commercial buildings has been well established by the building science field. As we move toward enabling grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB) targeting flexible building operation and carbon reduction, quantification methods to evaluate time-sensitive peak load and emissions impact are much less defined. A number of national laboratories are working to field validate four different GEB software solutions that provide the capability to control multiple building end-use systems in multiple load flexibility modes (i.e., energy efficiency, load shed, load shift, and possible load modulation at the second to sub-second level). To guide the laboratory leads in effective measurement and verification (M&V) practices, two of the laboratories collaborated to define metrics to quantify the impacts of flexible load control on building demand, utility costs, carbon emissions, facility management, and occupant comfort. This paper summarizes the proposed metrics to quantify peak load and emission impacts in the field, decision parameters, approaches to accurately conduct M&V, lessons learned, and outstanding needs and next steps.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗

Improved Control Strategy of Grid-Forming Inverters for Fault Ride-Through in a Microgrid System

This paper develops an improved control strategy of grid-forming (GFM) inverters with fault ride-through (FRT) capabilities to guarantee the stable operation of microgrids under fault conditions, especially islanded microgrids and asymmetrical faults. The proposed control strategy includes the dual control of positive-sequence and negative-sequence control as well as the adaptive virtual impedance (VI) control. Unlike existing works, the proposed strategy applies the VI control for only the d component of the positive-sequence control and leaves the q component of the positive-sequence control and the dq component of the negative-sequence control as zero, thus achieving improved stability and balanced three-phase voltages under asymmetrical faults. The adaptive feature of the VI control guarantees the stability of the GFM inverter under severe faults, which could cause the saturation of the inner current loop, and the instability if the VI is not adaptive. Simulation results of various unbalanced faults with high and low fault impedances show that the proposed control strategy improves the stability of the GFM inverter and achieves stable and balanced output voltages in islanded microgrids. And the algorithm also improves the stability of GFM inverters under balanced faults with high and low fault impedances.

adaptive virtual impedance control↗

Analysis and Technology Needs for Getting to 100% Renewable Energy: Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100) Example

The presentation outlines the energy sector impacts of Hurricane's Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico, followed by the analysis and technology needs for getting to 100% renewable energy with an overview of the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (i.e., PR 100 Study).

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,POWER TRANSMI↗

Mathematical Tools for the Analysis of Periodic and Aperiodic Grid Signals

Numerous sensing techniques and instrumentation are used in determining the state of the electric grid. Coupled with such measurements are the methods and analysis tools used. The parameters of interest result in both periodic and aperiodic signals. An examination of appropriate analysis tools is presented

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Grid Interconnection and Renewables Deployment Related Air Quality and Human Health Benefits in Southeast Asia

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has increasingly focused on multilateral electricity trade, improved grid resiliency and modernization. These opportunities in the power sector have been studied through the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Studies, the most recent of which is the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III (AIMS III). AIMS III assessed four different scenarios of power system in the ASEAN countries that include a base scenario and three additional scenarios (called optimum RE, ASEAN RE, and High RE) considering different levels of deployment of renewable energy (RE) and cross-border generation and trade of electricity for three years (2025, 2030, 2040). In this work, we quantify the potential air quality and public health co-benefits of AIMS III scenarios. For a rapidly expanding, energy hungry region like SE Asia generation is power generation is expected to increase significantly. The AIMS III scenarios' capacity expansion modeling suggest that: 1) Generation nearly doubles from 2025 to 2040 in all four AIMS III scenarios; 2) Most of the increased generation is met by coal in all four AIMS III scenarios; 3) While renewables generation increases in all four AIMS III scenarios, the fraction of total generation (its share) generally decreases because of the much greater increase in non-renewable sources, mostly coal. Only in the High RE Target scenario do renewables represent a higher share in 2040 than in 2025, though even here it is at the expense of natural gas rather than coal; 4) As a result, emissions of gaseous and aerosol pollutants increase significantly in all scenarios. Because emissions increase in 2040 compared to 2025 for all four AIMS III scenarios, so do PM2.5 concentrations. Even for the High RE Target scenario (the scenario with highest share of renewable energy), compared to the Base scenario in 2025, in 2040 PM2.5 concentrations are higher. Compared to the Base scenario in the same years, the Optimum RE and ASEAN RE Target scenarios do not differ very much from the Base in terms of PM2.5 concentration. The High RE Target scenario, on the other hand, yields noticeably lower PM2.5 concentration. For example, in 2040 the population-weighted decrease in annual average PM2.5 concentration in the High RE Target scenario relative to the Base scenario is 0.5 ug m-3. Compared to the Base scenario in 2040, each of the alternative AIMS III scenarios is estimated to result in net reductions in power-sector air quality-related excess mortality in the ASEAN region. Yet there are a few countries for which the Optimum RE and ASEAN RE Target result in increases in PM2.5-related excess mortality (Thailand and Vietnam for the ASEAN RE Target scenario and Thailand for the Optimum RE scenario). However, for the High RE Target scenario, all countries benefit and find reductions in excess mortality resulting from the power sector scenarios modeled in AIMS III with regionwide mortality decreasing by 16,000 compared to the Base scenario in 2040. In summary, our analysis finds that changing power generation emissions is a crucial lever for improving public health in ASEAN member countries and provides a pathway for policymakers to make decision backed by a realistic power sector expansion and air quality analyses.

air quality↗

Investigating Multi-Microgrid Black Start Methods Using Grid-Forming Inverters: Preprint

This paper examines state-of-the-art microgrid (MG) black-start technologies with high IBR penetrations and proposes black-start and interconnection methods for 100% grid-forming (GFM) inverter-based MGs. A multiple-microgrid approach is proposed and compared to the existing methods in a 4-bus, 12-GFM inverter simulation test setup. This investigation involves intelligent synchronization units called "synchrobreakers," which enable the synchronization of multiple MGs based on their terminal measurements. MGs in this setup are held at different loading levels and comprise averaged models of GFM inverters with ideal voltage sources. The results of the black-start techniques are compared, and conclusions are drawn to better prepare MG planners and DSOs for the next-generation GFM inverter-based multi-MG black-start procedures.

black start↗

Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100)

Puerto Rico has committed to meeting its electricity needs with 100% renewable energy by 2050, along with realizing interim goals of 40% by 2025, 60% by 2040, the phaseout of coal-fired generation by 2028, and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2040 as established in Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act (Act 17). To meet these goals and support widespread end-use electrification, Puerto Rico is exploring renewable energy and innovative technologies for energy storage, distributed generation, distribution control, electric vehicles, and energy efficient and responsive loads that can be deployed in each of Puerto Rico's cities and communities. Launched in February 2022, a two-year study entitled Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100) will perform a comprehensive analysis of stakeholder-driven pathways to Puerto Rico's clean energy future. This fact sheet describes the five activities this robust and objective energy analysis entails.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Grid Enhancing Technologies in ISO-NE

Assess Grid Enhancing Technologies in transmission planning by coupling economic and reliability analysis over an entire time horizon rather than a few dispatch conditions for ISO-NE.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Vis-SAGA: Visual Analytics for Situational Awareness of Grid Anomalies: Preprint

We describe supporting near real-time situational awareness of the electric distribution system by visualizing novel data from voltage sensors deployed on existing broadband cable television network equipment. Our scalable web-based visual analytics platform supports interactive geospatial exploration, time-series analysis, and summarization of grid behavior during potentially anomalous events. The broadband cable television sensor network provides observability of the electrical distribution system at a higher local spatial resolution than is typically available to most utilities, revealing the operational state of the network and aiding in the detection of abnormal behaviors or deviations from expected patterns, particularly across electric utility service areas. We outline the design and development of interactive geospatial and time-series visualization components and the scalable data services that supply metadata, historical, and real-time streams of sensor data across the network. We evaluate our platform during periods of extreme weather, demonstrating its ability to assist in detecting patterns of operation that affect power availability, quality, resiliency, and service restoration.

cable television↗