Model-Free Optimal Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources for Provisioning Transmission-Level Services

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date Published

05/2017

Authors

DOI

Abstract

Collective control of distributed energy resources (DER)-such as photovoltaic (PV) inverters or battery storage-have the potential to provide regulation services to the bulk electric grid. While optimal power flow techniques may be used to coordinate DER for this purpose, these approaches typically rely on accurate network models and a large number of system measurements. In this paper, we consider an approach that alleviates these modeling and measurement requirements. Here, we consider a two-dimensional adaptive control scheme known as extremum seeking, or ES, to perform optimization without knowledge of a model of the distribution network. We apply this scheme to enable simultaneous feeder head active power and voltage magnitude reference tracking, as well as feeder voltage regulation. From the perspective of the transmission grid, this approach essentially transforms the distribution feeder into a controllable (P,V) bus. Simulation results confirm the ability of the approach to track substation real power and voltage reference signals while maintaining distribution system voltages within acceptable tolerances.

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Power Systems

Volume

33

Year of Publication

2017

Issue

1

ISSN

0885-8950

Organization