SGER: Exploring the Future of Distributed Generation and Micro-Grid Networks

随着近年来分布式发电技术的发展和近期东北大停电事件的发生，分布式发电已成为提高供电可靠性和安全性的解决方案之一。对新建输电线路兴趣不足将导致输电网络压力过大，可靠性降低。FERC已经认识到DG的重要性，并根据FERC 61104号命令（2003年7月24日）在公用事业公司和DG所有者之间制定了政策和合同形式。IEEE标准1547已经建立，用于管理配电系统中DG单元安装的技术要求。关于DG在美国的未来有很多争论和争论。不同类型的DG生产商都很热情，DG将被许多客户广泛使用。由于DG机组在配电系统中的渗透，公用事业公司有许多担忧，如失去客户和降低配电系统的安全性和可靠性。客户有自己的观点，有些人希望DG能提供更便宜的电力，有些人认为即使电价上涨，DG也是清洁能源，有些人认为DG会提高供电的可靠性。投资者正在研究市场，以发现与DG投资相关的风险和收益。在最近的NSF/EPRI关于输电系统增强机会的研讨会上，减少输电系统脆弱性的建议之一是使用分布式发电。认为分布式发电（DG）提供了有前途的解决方案，可以缓解现有输电系统的压力。有人提到，DG安装在靠近负载的地方，可以减少整个输电系统的功率损耗，并提供瞬态稳定性和电压支持。预计在解除管制的电力行业中，DG将在提高配电系统可靠性方面发挥重要作用。在我们的探索性研究中，我们希望定义和探索DG安装面临的潜在问题，DG所有者与公用事业公司之间的关系类型，DG与公用事业公司并联运行所需工具的开发，DG对整个电力系统可靠性的可能影响，DG在促进停电后电力恢复方面的可能作用，DG投资相关的风险以及微电网的多目标优化规划。我们想调查这些问题并探索可能的解决方案。很明显，不可能在这个SGER框架内解决所有问题。这里的目的是探索这些问题的初步解决方案，并确定未来的研究将需要更全面的解决方案。提议的研究应该被认为是探索性的，特别是由于与DG技术进步相关的不确定性，缺乏与公用事业并行的DG工作的实践经验，以及该领域的研究不足。另一方面，DG将继续渗透市场，重要的是要展望未来，看到可能的影响，并制定方法来协调预期的效果，如提高电网的可靠性和安全性。在我们提出的研究中，我们希望客观地研究DG在未来电力市场中可以发挥的作用。我们会研究发电机组的最佳运作模式，以达致电力公司、发电机组拥有人及用户的最大利益。研究结果可以鼓励投资者将DG视为低风险投资，鼓励公用事业公司考虑制定DG运行控制策略和政策，提高配电系统的可靠性。由于本研究的迫切需要，SGER基金适合支持本工作；这项研究的结果将包括对潜在的DG和微电网研究问题的许多建议和建议的解决方法。这一探索性研究的结果将引起人们对许多潜在问题的关注，并鼓励这一领域的更多研究和发展。

With the recent advances in distributed generation (DG) technology and the recent blackout in Northeast, distributed generation appears to be one of the solutions to improve the reliability and security of power supply. Low interest in building new transmission lines will result in a highly stressed transmission network and reduced levels of reliability. FERC has recognized the importance of DG and has established policies and forms of contract that can be made between the utility and DG owners as presented in order 104 FERC 61,104 (July 24, 2003). The IEEE standard 1547 has been established to govern technical requirements for the installation of DG units in distribution systems.There are many arguments and much debate about the future of DG in USA. Producers of different types of DG are enthusiastic that DG will be widely used by many customers. Utilities have many concerns such as loosing customers and degrading distribution system safety and reliability as a result of penetration of DG units in the distribution system. Customers have their own view points, some of them look to DG for less expensive power, others see it as clean power source even if power prices get higher and some believe DG will improve power supply reliability. Investors are studying the market to find the risks and benefits associated with investment in DG. In a recent NSF/EPRI workshop on opportunities for transmission system enhancement [1], one of the recommendations to decrease transmission system vulnerability is the use of distributed generation. It was suggested that distributed generation (DG) offers promising solutions that can release the stress of existing transmission systems. It was mentioned that DG installed close to loads results in decreased power losses throughout transmission system, and provides transient stability and voltage support. It is expected that DG will have an important role in improving distribution system reliability in the deregulated power industry [2].In our exploratory research we want to define and explore the potential problems facing DG installation, types of relationships between DG owners and utility, development of tools needed for DG parallel operation with the utility, possible effects of DG on overall power system reliability, possible role of DG in facilitating power restoration after a blackout, risks associated with investment in DG and multi-objective optimized planning for micro-grid power networks. We want to investigate these problems and explore possible solutions. It is clear that it will not be possible to solve all the problems in the framework of this SGER. The intent here is to explore the preliminary solutions for these problems and identify the future research that will be needed for more comprehensive solutions.The proposed research should be considered exploratory particularly due to the uncertainty associated with advances in DG technology, lack of practical experience in DG working in parallel with utility and insufficient research studies in this area. On the other hand DG will continue to penetrate the market and it is important to look into the future to see the possible impacts and also develop methodologies to orchestrate the desired effects like enhanced reliability and security of power networks.In our proposed research we want to objectively study the role that DG can play in the power market in the future. We will investigate the optimal operation modes for DG units to achieve maximum benefits for utility, DG owners and customers. Research results may encourage investors to consider DG as a low risk investment, encourage utility to consider developing control strategies and policies for DG operation, and improve distribution system reliability. SGER grant is suitable for supporting this work because of the urgent need of this research; the outcomes of this research will include many recommendations and suggested solution approaches for potential DG and micro-grid research problems. The results of this exploratory research will bring many potential problems to focus and encourage more research and development in this area.