DOE Microgrid R&D NeedsSteve Bossart

Military Smart Grid & Microgrids SymposiumNovember 15, 2012

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Topics

• Vision and goals• Workshop background• DOE microgrid R&D needs

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Vision and Goals

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Definition by Microgrid Exchange Group

A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode.

Microgrid and OE’s Performance Target

Develop commercial scale (<10MW) microgrid systems capable of reducing outage time of required loads by >98% at a cost comparable to non-integrated baseline solutions (UPS + diesel genset), while reducing emissions by >20% and improving system energy efficiencies by >20%

OE’s 2020 Performance Target

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Microgrids & Smart Grids

Central Generation

Transmission Load

Distributed Generation E-Storage

Distribution

E-StorageDistributed Generation Load

Microgrid

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A Possible Future Distribution Architecture

Municipal Microgrid

Military Microgrid

Campus Microgrid Commercial Park

Microgrid

IndustrialMicrogrid

Utility Microgrid

Distribution Control

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Microgrid-Enhanced Distribution System

• Ease CHP application• Support increase in renewables• Arbitrage of energy price differentials• Enhance G&T using DER for peak shaving• Enhanced reliability with intentional islanding• High local reliability• Energy during outages• Serve critical loads

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Background

FY2012 DOE Microgrid R&D Workshop

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DOE Microgrid R&D Needs Workshop Topics

FY2011 FY2012Standards and Protocols System Architecture Development

Systems Design and Economic Analysis

Modeling and Analysis

System Integration Power System Design

Switch Technologies Steady State Control and Coordination

Control and Protection Technologies Transient State Control & Coordination

Inverters/Converters Operational Optimization

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Development of Microgrid R&D Needs

2012 DOE Microgrid Workshop Details

• Followup to August, 2011 microgrid workshop in San Diego, CA

• July 30-31, 2012 at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL

• 100 participants including 13 from 8 foreign countries

• Vendors, electric utilities, national labs, universities, research institutes, end users

Purpose

- Identify system integration gaps

- Define R&D needs to meet functional requirements

- Contribute to DOE microgrid R&D roadmap

- Contribute to DOE Smart Grid R&D multi-year program plan

- Provide content for possible microgrid R&D FOA

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DOE OE Microgrid R&D Needs

Microgrid Workshop Results

www.e2rg.com/reports

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FY2012 DOE Microgrid R&D AreasPlanning and Design• System Architecture Development• Modeling and Analysis• Power System Design

Operations and Control• Steady State Control and Coordination• Transient State Control and Coordination• Operational Optimization

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Microgrid R&D Needs

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System Architecture Development Define microgrid applications, interfaces, and services

– ideal architecture and use cases– electrical and information architecture– transition existing grid to better incorporate microgrids– Interface standards for interconnection, communications &

information

Open architectures with flexibility, scalability, & security– develop interoperable distributed controls and flexible

architecture to facilitate different applications– move to plug-and-play features for generation & load– controls to include flexibility for power consumption, storage,

import, and export

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Modeling and AnalysisPerformance optimization methods and uncertainty in the modeling and design process

– Local and dynamic control of power quality– Assessment of diminishing returns of PQ & outages– Better modeling of vehicle-microgrid connection including

understanding of mobile sources– Model power & communication together to assess

interoperabilityDevelop a standard set of collaborative tools that:– addresses uncertainty– has a more holistic approach to integration of assets– broadly assesses value streams – validates the models and other tools

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Power System Design DC Power

– establish codes and standards for DC applications in residential, commercial, and industrial environments

– develop standard design methodologies and software tools– develop DC system control methods and algorithms– implement a strategy to promote DC microgrids – Improve power electronics (lower cost, higher function and reliability)

Microgrid Integration– develop a resource guide (i.e., handbook) to available products, costs,

installation methods, valuation methods– standard methods for analysis of microgrid e-storage vs. using main grid – control and communications interfaces from microgrid to main grid– modeling needs to benchmark performance, support design, stochastics– universal power electronics to fit multiple resources

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Steady State Control and Coordination Internal Services within a Microgrid

– Develop a standard set of hardware and software that supports the communication protocols and cybersecurity standards already developed to allow DER to plug-and-play

– Develop three-phase estimators based on phasor measurement units (PMUs) and compatible instrumentation for run time control

– Develop a better understanding of methods of decoupling frequency and voltage– Demonstrate a system that can synchronize and reconnect a microgrid under all edge

conditions (high PV penetration) for all classes of microgrids.– DER interface with legacy systems such as dumb inverters

Interaction of Microgrid with Utility or Other Microgrids– Evaluate microgrids against other existing utility mitigation tools and schemes (e.g., counter

intermittent renewables) – Evaluate potential effects of multiple microgrids on the stability of the grid and potential

regulations, economic incentives, and control schemes that could be used for mitigation– Tools to manage microgrids and their resources in cooperation with main grid assets– Develop a technical, operational, and economic model to demonstrate the value of

microgrids to utilities through simulation and case studies– Evaluate risk of microgrid to add instability (rogue agents)

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Transient State Control & Coordination– Develop transient control strategies considering stability

limits, additional local and system-wide controls, …– Develop system-wide ride-through capabilities while

protecting personnel and equipment– Define impact of types of communication and identify

requirements (e.g., latency, reliability, redundancy, …)– Develop 3-phase unbalanced dynamic stability analysis

models and Reference Study for transient stability analysis– Develop technically mature, commercially-available

autonomous transition control and protection concept and products that meet the defined capabilities

– Validate standard microgrid component models for protection and transient studies

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Operational OptimizationOperational Optimization of a Single Microgrid

– Develop real-time (RT) and near-RT controls that incorporate optimization

– Evaluate a variety of optimization techniques – Data management (i.e., collect, validate, store, analyze, visualize)– Develop methodology for comparing microgrid baseline to optimized

microgrid operations for potential input into business case analysis.

Operational Optimization of Multiple Microgrids – Develop RT and near-RT controls that optimize multiple microgrids– Develop methods to negotiate conflicting objectives and optimizations

between multiple microgrids – Evaluate variety of optimization techniques applied to multiple microgrids– Develop methodology for comparing multiple microgrid baseline to

optimized microgrid operations for potential input into business case– Address possible issue with processing capabilities

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Contact InformationMerrill Smith & Dan TonProgram ManagersMicrogrid R&DU.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Energy Delivery and Energy Reliability

Merrill.smith@hq.doe.gov(202) 586-3646

Dan.ton@hq.doe.gov(202) 586-4618

Steve BossartSenior Energy AnalystU.S. Department of EnergyNational Energy Technology Lab

Steven.bossart@netl.doe.gov(304) 285-4643

Key Microgrid Resources:DOE OE www.oe.energy.govSmart Grid www.smartgrid.gov