Distribution System Operator (DSO) Simulation Studio

Distribution System Operator (DSO) Simulation StudioSantiago GrijalvaProsumerGrid, Inc.

Project Objectives

Fill the void in the industry’s capability to simulate and optimally plan distribution systems with high penetration and complex portfolios of DERs.

Develop a simulation tool that can:– Capture the physical and economic trade-offs involved in

distribution system DER planning and operation.– Support critical decision-making associated with DER and grid

infrastructure investment.– Leverage recent breakthroughs in large-scale optimization and

state-of-the-art software methods to realize an interactive, powerful simulator.

1© 2019 ProsumerGrid, Inc., All Rights Reserved

The Challenge The electric industry is moving towards a model based on DERs,

energy services, and active customers. − Investment decisions involve $1.5 trillion in the U.S. by 2030− There are many ideas on how DER-based distribution systems should be

realized, operated, planned (or mandated), incentivized, etc., but there is no effective way to test those ideas.

“Transforming America’s Power Industry: The Investment Challenge 2010 – 2030”The Brattle Group (Brattle) for The Edison Foundation (EEI)

© 2019 ProsumerGrid, Inc., All Rights Reserved 2

The Challenge

Currently, it is very difficult to:− Simulate the physical impact of DERs on the grid.

− Example: Hosting capacity of PV + Storage− Determine the optimal operation of DERs

− Example: Dispatch of DG + Storage + DR− Assess the value and determine optimal

investments in DER portfolios− Example: Non-wires alternatives

− Simulate various market designs. − Example: REV, DSO Markets

A quantum leap is needed in the industry’s capability to simulate (and hence to optimally plan and operate) DER-based distribution systems.


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Regulators

Market Participants

UtilityEngineers

Developers

DER/DSO Simulation Studio

Interactive, web-based software to simulate the optimal operation and determine optimal plans for distribution grids with massive number of DERs. Advanced optimization algorithms on top of full 3-phase, AC, unbalanced

grid model are able to capture: a) physical DER and grid constraints, b) controller operation, c) system coordination, and d) economics.


DER Planning & DSO Simulation Studio

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Regulators

Market Participants

UtilityEngineers

Developers

Quantum Leap


Existing SimulationPower flow-based

Mostly for PV

Centralized

“Spreadsheet” B/C analysis

No market modeling

Single processor

Command prompt

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Simulator Innovative FeaturesOptimization-based DER Scheduling

All types of DER, combinations of DERs

Decentralized, multi-agent, massively scalable

DER valuation based on stochastic optimization

Services transactions market modeling

HPC-native, cloud-based

Web-based, Interactive

Core: DER Energy Scheduling

Full model of unbalanced, 3-phase AC distribution grid.

DER Decision-Variables− Curtailable PV− Schedulable Storage− Electric Vehicles− Flexible Demand− Distributed Generation− Fuel Cells, CHP

Output:− Optimal Schedules for all DERs− Time Vector, Per Phase, Distribution

Locational Marginal Prices (DLMP)


• High-fidelity Optimization determines the minimum-cost schedule of arbitrary sets of DERs in the distribution grid

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Seamless selection of DER penetration options Example: Hosting capacity of solar PV + schedulable energy storage

DER Hosting Capacity Analysis

• Interconnection studies for single DER or arbitrary combinations of multiple types of DER in complex distribution systems

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DER Locational Value & NWA Analysis

Electric Utility Planning and Procurement have to evaluate DER as non-wires alternatives to traditional capital investments

DER/DSO Simulator considers:– The locational and temporal value

of integrated DERs portfolios– The network physical constraints– The market constraints– How the DERs are operated– T/D interactions


• Evaluate DER portfolios as non-wire alternatives to grid upgrades

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Support for RFP Design by Optimal DER Portfolio Studies

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PLANNING

Forecasting/ DER Scenario

Generation

Distribution Grid Studies

DER Forecast

Demand Forecast

Hosting Capacity Analysis

Load Growth Analysis

Distribution Grid Needs

Evaluate Alternatives

Design Request for Proposals

Technical Feasibility Screening

Sourcing DER Provided Services

Traditional:Upgrading

Existing Assets-Reconfiguration

Time (hours)

GW

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 240

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

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1.4

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2AtlantaAugustaColumbusSavannahAthensMacon

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 90005

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Time (hours)

GW

Maintenance & Reliability Program

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Time (hour)

0

0.2

0.4

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0.8

1

1.2Olin Barre Case: 2019 Substation Demand Loading Prof ile with DER Portfolio

Load Growth Need

Hosting Capacity Need

yMaintenance/

Reliability Need

NWA:Competitive

Sourcing of DER

Assess Wires/Non-Wires

Alternatives

Traditional:Deploying New

Assets-Reconfiguration

Optimal DER Portfolio Design(before RFP is out)

-Support RFP Design -Design Optimal DER portfolio to defer/avoid traditional investment and solve Distribution Grid Need-Determine Optimal DER type,

capacity, location

Optimal DER Portfolio Design(before RFP is out)

-Support RFP Design -Design Optimal DER portfolio to defer/avoid traditional investment and solve Distribution Grid Need-Determine Optimal DER type,

capacity, location

Optimal DER Project Assessment(after RFP)

-Support DER Alternatives Selection

-Support Assessment of third party proposals to form the least

cost combination of DER proposals

Optimal DER Project Assessment(after RFP)

-Support DER Alternatives Selection

-Support Assessment of third party proposals to form the least

cost combination of DER proposals

DSO/DSP Market Design

Flexible definition of markets:– Participants: customers,

aggregators, microgrids, prosumers, etc.

– Services: energy, reserve, frequency regulation, expansion deferral, etc.

– Market rules: horizons, bidding, etc. Energy and services pricing

– Transaction-based Support for decentralized

models:– Peer to peer markets– DSO/DSO or DSO/ISO interactions– Nested markets:

ISO/DSO/Community, etc.


• Studio Environment for Design of Markets at the Distribution Level supporting DSO/DSP/REV efforts

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Partnerships

Established partnerships with more than 10 electric utilities and coops to study emerging use cases

DER Integration:– Benefits from energy storage– Combined solar and storage

DER Valuation– Impact of flexible DR– DR/DERs NWA S/E expansion– Avoided Costs– RFP Evaluation

Resilience Analysis– Impact of DER on Resilience.


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Hurricane Maria: non-served energy of 3,096 GWh (largest blackout in US History). Project seeks to assess optimal selection of DER and grid

technologies to drastically increase grid resilience in case of severe weather events.

Puerto Rico Grid-Redesign Study

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Project uses combined T/D optimal DER valuation including location (feeder node and phase), DER type, amount, and optimal cost.

Resilience Module enables determination of grid locational restoration time for arbitrary hurricane path and severity.

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Puerto Rico Grid-Redesign Study

Large-Scale T/D Optimization

Next Steps

Various functions of the software successfully tested on the “Large-Scale Model”. CA transmission system + 100 feeders each with more than 500

nodes, each node and phase with various DERs. Running currently on AWS

Beta Testing completed by partners by May 2019 Product Release by August 2019 Currently initiating Series A Investment


Contact us: [email protected]

Thanks

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Documents

Distribution System Operator (DSO) Simulation Studio