Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GiSTDS (GridEye Scalable Transactive Distribution Systems)
Reporting period: 2020-12-01 to 2022-11-30
GiSTDS stands for GridEye Scalable transactive distribution systems. The concept of transactive distribution systems is uninvited upcoming structure of the future distribution systems. Therefore, this project by assuming this type of energy systems certainly are the future of energy systems proposed modern solutions to control distribution systems in an optimal manner. Throughout transition from traditional distribution networks to transactive distribution systems, private end-users will equip themselves to distributed energy resources such as renewable based and fuel based energy generation units. Therefore, the consumer nature is completely developing towards prosumers. Integrating of prosumers in distribution systems creates different aspects of communities such as microgrids which are able to produce their own consumption within a territory. In this regards, GiSTDS proposing a comprehensive real time control energy management assets energy suppliers, and distribution system operators to handle energy interactions and optimal control of resources.
The main modules that are provided through GiSTDS project are:
i) Real-time control of energy consumption, production of renewable energy resources within the operating time period
ii) Optimal control and energy management of resources within the distribution grid regarding network constraints as a real-time scheduling systems
iii) Implementing smart grid monitoring devices for gathering data and empowering control scheme by using cleaned real data and
iv) proposing energy trading scheme within the active distribution systems considering technical and economical constraints of the entities.
The main modules that are provided through GiSTDS project are:
i) Real-time control of energy consumption, production of renewable energy resources within the operating time period
ii) Optimal control and energy management of resources within the distribution grid regarding network constraints as a real-time scheduling systems
iii) Implementing smart grid monitoring devices for gathering data and empowering control scheme by using cleaned real data and
iv) proposing energy trading scheme within the active distribution systems considering technical and economical constraints of the entities.
The overall objectives of the project GiSTDS were to achieve –
a) the novel and innovative schemes for providing real-time services for the control of distributed energy resources and technical oriented mechanism for handling interactions between distribution systems and private entities. Furthermore, accurate forecasting for predicting renewable energy productions, net-load consumptions was investigated as vital requirement to obtain the prier objectives; and
b) to improve the skills and career opening opportunities of the experience researcher (ER).
Both the objectives successfully have been achieved. The project developed new and innovative grid-oriented algorithms for the forecasting uncertain parameters in a rolling manner, real-time control of distributed resources within a defined territory (i.e. distribution grid or communities such as microgrids and prosumers), pricing electricity for each transaction between entities in the local market and finally tracing the cleared power from the producers to the final consumers. For all abovementioned objective, technical constraints and operating limits of grid components and energy resources are modelled by regarding optimal power flow and power tracing equations. Considering technical constraints ensures that the grid is operating in feasible and secure conditions and challenges such as voltage volatility in the grid’s nodes and congestion in the lines are controlled. Furthermore, implementing rolling horizon forecasts with high accuracy in the real-time control of the grid and installed energy resources, improves the efficiency of installed DERs such as battery storage systems, photovoltaic systems. For instance, in a distribution system with the high penetration level of PVs and storage systems, efficient control results in benefits in terms of self-consumption, peak-load shaving in during the nights and decreasing transformers and lines’ over-loading during the mid-days. It should be mentioned that in GiSTDS, the accurate forecasts and effective controlling of resources are obtaining by utilizing accurate and synchronized grid monitoring data provided by real installation of GridEye devices, the host’s core production. Moreover, diverse career development activities and two-way transfer of knowledge have opened many opportunities as the next professional step for the ER. The accomplishment of these objectives is proven by publication on the topic, providing models for host’s costumers for real-time control resources in LKW (low voltage grid in Lichtenstein) and SCCER (low voltage grid in western Switzerland) projects.
a) the novel and innovative schemes for providing real-time services for the control of distributed energy resources and technical oriented mechanism for handling interactions between distribution systems and private entities. Furthermore, accurate forecasting for predicting renewable energy productions, net-load consumptions was investigated as vital requirement to obtain the prier objectives; and
b) to improve the skills and career opening opportunities of the experience researcher (ER).
Both the objectives successfully have been achieved. The project developed new and innovative grid-oriented algorithms for the forecasting uncertain parameters in a rolling manner, real-time control of distributed resources within a defined territory (i.e. distribution grid or communities such as microgrids and prosumers), pricing electricity for each transaction between entities in the local market and finally tracing the cleared power from the producers to the final consumers. For all abovementioned objective, technical constraints and operating limits of grid components and energy resources are modelled by regarding optimal power flow and power tracing equations. Considering technical constraints ensures that the grid is operating in feasible and secure conditions and challenges such as voltage volatility in the grid’s nodes and congestion in the lines are controlled. Furthermore, implementing rolling horizon forecasts with high accuracy in the real-time control of the grid and installed energy resources, improves the efficiency of installed DERs such as battery storage systems, photovoltaic systems. For instance, in a distribution system with the high penetration level of PVs and storage systems, efficient control results in benefits in terms of self-consumption, peak-load shaving in during the nights and decreasing transformers and lines’ over-loading during the mid-days. It should be mentioned that in GiSTDS, the accurate forecasts and effective controlling of resources are obtaining by utilizing accurate and synchronized grid monitoring data provided by real installation of GridEye devices, the host’s core production. Moreover, diverse career development activities and two-way transfer of knowledge have opened many opportunities as the next professional step for the ER. The accomplishment of these objectives is proven by publication on the topic, providing models for host’s costumers for real-time control resources in LKW (low voltage grid in Lichtenstein) and SCCER (low voltage grid in western Switzerland) projects.
The specific scientific objectives of the GiSTDS are :
- Importance of real-time control of LV networks
Due to lack of monitoring at the LV level, the distribution grid operator has no visibility of the resources connected to the LV grid. By using real-time recorded data by GridEye and implementing fast and secure reading/writing application programming interfaces, the optimization framework with different objective functions is activated. The mechanism of real-time control of DERs aims to achieve maximum self-consumption, peak reduction, congestion management and controlling voltage volatility in the nodes. The developed control mechanism within the GiSTDS project helps DSOs to operate distribution grids in minimum operation cost by satisfying proper technical constraints such as voltage and power flow.
- Rolling horizon forecasting
The second main module within the GiSTDS was rolling horizon forecasting. The accurate forecasts give appropriate overviews about the uncertain parameters such as PV production, net-load consumption and other required uncertain parameters. The developed forecasting module uses statistical methods to forecast timeseries. It is noteworthy that the host’s core production, GridEye, provides real-time monitoring database which improves the accuracy of our forecasting methods. Furthermore, the availability of LV monitoring data in some critical points of the grid are used to reflect the information behind-the-meter. The outputs of forecasting module are completely used in the real-time control and proposed transactive system.
- Scalability of transactive method
In future modern distribution systems, DSOs need to utilize a scalable transactive system to facilitate energy trading between communities. In this regard, feasible transactions should be determined regarding technical constraints of the grid. Moreover, the implemented method for pricing should not be affected by the market power and should be able to handle for grids with enormous entities within the grid. Given by this assumption, transactive energy system regarding power tracing that uses outcomes of optimal power flow from the grid operator’s point of view is our solution. GiSTDS developed an algorithm based on integration of OPF and Power tracing which determines optimal setpoints of transactions and assigning consumers to the producers. Based on assigned consumptions to the productions and grid’s losses to the consumers and producers, grid operator clears the local market. In comparison with distributed local marginal prices, the prices based on power tracing project the supply cost of energy per MW only for the corresponding timeslot.
Based on the researcher and host organization exploration, it is expected that the project's outcomes will be implemented in the future software and the next version of the host's core production.
- Importance of real-time control of LV networks
Due to lack of monitoring at the LV level, the distribution grid operator has no visibility of the resources connected to the LV grid. By using real-time recorded data by GridEye and implementing fast and secure reading/writing application programming interfaces, the optimization framework with different objective functions is activated. The mechanism of real-time control of DERs aims to achieve maximum self-consumption, peak reduction, congestion management and controlling voltage volatility in the nodes. The developed control mechanism within the GiSTDS project helps DSOs to operate distribution grids in minimum operation cost by satisfying proper technical constraints such as voltage and power flow.
- Rolling horizon forecasting
The second main module within the GiSTDS was rolling horizon forecasting. The accurate forecasts give appropriate overviews about the uncertain parameters such as PV production, net-load consumption and other required uncertain parameters. The developed forecasting module uses statistical methods to forecast timeseries. It is noteworthy that the host’s core production, GridEye, provides real-time monitoring database which improves the accuracy of our forecasting methods. Furthermore, the availability of LV monitoring data in some critical points of the grid are used to reflect the information behind-the-meter. The outputs of forecasting module are completely used in the real-time control and proposed transactive system.
- Scalability of transactive method
In future modern distribution systems, DSOs need to utilize a scalable transactive system to facilitate energy trading between communities. In this regard, feasible transactions should be determined regarding technical constraints of the grid. Moreover, the implemented method for pricing should not be affected by the market power and should be able to handle for grids with enormous entities within the grid. Given by this assumption, transactive energy system regarding power tracing that uses outcomes of optimal power flow from the grid operator’s point of view is our solution. GiSTDS developed an algorithm based on integration of OPF and Power tracing which determines optimal setpoints of transactions and assigning consumers to the producers. Based on assigned consumptions to the productions and grid’s losses to the consumers and producers, grid operator clears the local market. In comparison with distributed local marginal prices, the prices based on power tracing project the supply cost of energy per MW only for the corresponding timeslot.
Based on the researcher and host organization exploration, it is expected that the project's outcomes will be implemented in the future software and the next version of the host's core production.