Self-organising distributed control of a distributed energy system with a high penetration of renewable energy

Power systems across the EU are currently being forced towards a radical transformation, driven by a gradual redefinition of their role. Present-day systems were originally designed to host a relatively small number of large, central power producing units, whose output was to be transmitted and distributed to a large number of small consumers. Energy passed the hierarchically-organized levels of the distribution network predominantly in one direction. In recent years however, market opening and the steady proliferation of renewable energies have considerably changed the picture, and a rapidly growing number of small power producing units is becoming connected in many locations, both within the transmission and distribution network. This trend is being sustained by the everincreasing wind power penetration, it will be boosted by the pending market introduction of household-size combined heat and power (CHP) plants, and it may receive further backing once photovoltaic become competitive. Security of supply and robustness to faults remains a major concern for the consumers as well as for system operators and national governments. At the same time, markets demand economic efficiency and low environmental impact. These partially conflicting goals cannot be met very well with existing control structures an(operating strategies, which were designed to match the structure of traditional power systems. CHP plants constitute interconnection points between the electrical, heat and gas supply networks, which are today treated as separate entities, each with their own market structures, operational and control strategies. System operators are currently becoming aware of the yet widely unused possibilities for the economical operation of an energy system offered by demand side management and local storage. At the same time, the distribution of power production opens possibilities for new features and properties of the distribution system, for example local selfmanagement and self-optimisation of parts of the power system. The objective of the project is to develop a proof-of-concept model for a decentralised, distributed and modular control system to improve stability, availability, robustness and flexibility of an energy system in the presence of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and sun. The project consists of four main task groups: 1. Development of state estimators and predictors. 2. Development of a distributed control system. 3. Development of a suitable simulation model. 4. Performance analysis, evaluation and adaptation of the control system model in grids with high penetration of renewable energy