TA Success Story: TEAM-VAR2
Networked Feedback Control of DER for Real-Time Voltage Regulation
Topic: Networked Feedback Control of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for Real-Time Voltage Regulation
Hosting facility: SYSLAB of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Duration:
06.05.2019 – 17.05.2019, 13.06.2019 – 24.06.2019
The increase of generation in the distribution grid and the upcoming increase of consumption through electric vehicles will lead to over– and under-voltage problems in the distribution grids. These can be solved by grid reinforcement with larger cables or through intelligent control. TA project TEAM-VAR2 experimentally analysed whether networked control approaches, that use the reactive power capabilities of inverters in distribution grids, are practically able to solve these over- and under-voltage problems. Specifically, the user group investigated two networked controllers: a centralised one and a distributed one using only peer-to-peer communication.
Achievements
TEAM-VAR2 identified a benchmark grid on which they experienced over- and under-voltages. On this grid they showed that local controllers cannot solve the voltage problems and are sometimes even decremental, because they can make the voltage problems worse.
Both networked controllers, the centralised and the distributed, effectively solve the voltage problems by utilising the reactive power capabilities of the inverters. Furthermore, the implemented controllers are nearly model-free, robust and easy to tune. This shows that one can perform reinforcement virtually through large scale plug-and-play implementation of networked controllers what will make wide renewable energy integration possible.
