Advanced Design, Planning and Control Algorithms for Smart Distribution Grids

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Driven by the urgent need to develop cleaner and more efficient, reliable, and resilient electric power grids, the energy sector is currently moving towards an era of smart grids. The main pillar of a smart grid setup is the evolution from a vertically integrated, partially-automated and producer-controlled electric power network to a decentralized one that enables interactions among customers, network operators, and power producers. In response to smart grid initiatives, electrical distribution grids are undergoing a major transition towards a smart distribution grids (SDGs) structure characterized by high penetration of distributed and renewable generation (DG), plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), energy storage devices, and grid-automation devices. The structure of SDGs will be divided into set of microgrids with sufficient generation to meet all or most of their local loads. Yet, major technical challenges face the realization of SDG vision due to its emergent nature. To that end, the proposed research program aims to develop a unifying framework for design, planning and control strategies of SDGs to facilitate timely and safe transition of distribution grids. In particular, three main projects will be conducted in the proposed research program. First, developing new design and planning strategies for the structure of SDGs (e.g. Optimal allocation and sizing of new components and technologies in SDGs, optimal set of microgrids that can be identified, created, and designed in a typical SDG and optimal configuration of the created microgrids). Second, developing a comprehensive multi-agent distributed control scheme to facilitate a scalable real-time cooperative control in SDGs. The proposed control scheme will integrate several operational scenarios and control objectives for SDGs clustered into microgrids with different configurations and modes of operation; important among these are online self-healing, power quality, and voltage stability. Third, developing real-time smart coordinated control schemes to accommodate high penetration of PEVs into aging distribution grids. The proposed research will help distribution power utilities to eliminate the current barriers towards the deployment of sustainable and clean energy resources, and smart grid technologies into the utility grid. The proliferation of these new essentials will help improve the overall power system performance by increasing the system reliability, power quality and efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact of the current central power generation plants. The proposed research is expected to create a knowledge-base and tools that are extremely useful to the energy system industry to facilitate the safe transition of current distribution grids into SDGs through better understanding of new requirements, upgrades, and concepts. The proposed research will place the theoretical foundations in the emerging area of SDGs research. Further, it will provide students with skills in vital areas of smart grids and sustainable energy. The energy and environment have been identified as a driving force for the new energy economy; Canada is a world leader in this area thus the accomplishment of the proposed research plan will have significant and measurable economic and environmental impact to Canada.