Sustainable Power Grids with High Penetration of Distributed Energy Resources

可再生能源的大规模集成，零边际成本，通过电力电子连接到电网，迫使我们重新思考如何保护，控制和优化电力系统。他们的低可控性推动了基于存储设备和需求响应的解决方案，以平衡系统，将电网作为转向100%可再生经济的关键政策工具。它确实将增加可再生能源发电的托管能力，同时通过促进微电网和客户拥有的分布式能源（DER），实现分散的电力交易，为客户提供更高的服务质量和满意度。这是主要的兴趣，调查的方法和途径，以处理和利用DER的潜力，在分配和传输水平，以最大限度地提高电网托管能力的可变资源。同样重要的是要了解的开发和操作的积极分布系统的高渗透率的DER，同时利用双边的相互作用的传输分配网络提供网格服务，从客户端的资源。在此背景下，研究结果将涉及塑造现代电网功能的关键创新领域：（a）分散式智能电网，无论是大规模还是小规模，相互补充，以实现新的可变发电管理计划。(b)分散的交易能源平台，赋予消费者权力，使他们成为积极的参与者，配备创新技术，以增加基于DER的能源供应。(c)新的操作程序，提高电力系统管理不确定性的灵活性，以及新的电网运营方式，减少因电网拥堵而导致的风能/太阳能限电。具体的研究目标包括：1）激活电网边缘，为新的商业模式赋予消费者对等和交易控制和市场; 2）确保电网运营商在具有无处不在的电网形成转换器和分级控制的电力电子主导系统中稳定可靠地使用客户侧DER;以及3）在存在不确定性的情况下，使用数据驱动和人工智能支持的自动操作，同时管理电网技术和经济性能。 该计划将通过让本科，硕士和博士生参与设计和实施三个主要研究轨道核心的先进DER技术，来大力培养三个大学周期的高素质人才。此外，这些学生将通过IREQ，MITACS或联盟资助的实习和毕业后的高薪工作向行业进行知识和技术的转移。在这一重大项目的背景下开发的技术转移到产业确实是学生的研究计划和培训理念的一个非常重要的组成部分。

The massive integration of renewable energy sources with zero marginal costs, connected through power electronics to the grid, imposes us to rethink how to protect, control and optimize power systems. Their low controllability pushes to envision solutions based on storage devices and demand responses to balance the system, setting the electric grid as key policy tool to switching to 100% renewable economy. It will indeed increase the hosting capacity of renewable generation while enabling decentralized electricity trading, with higher quality of service and satisfaction for customers, by facilitating microgrids and customer owned Distributed Energy Resources (DER). It is of prime interest to investigate methods and approaches to deal with and exploit the potential of DER, at both distribution and transmission levels to maximize grid-hosting capability of variable resources. It is also important to understand the development and operation of active distribution systems with high penetration of DERs, while exploiting bilateral interactions of transmission-distribution networks to provide grid services from client-side resources. In this context, the research findings will touch on key innovation areas that are shaping the functionality of modern electricity grid: (a) Decentralized smart grids, both large and small scale that complement each other to enable new variable-generation management schemes. (b) Decentralized transactive energy platforms that empower consumers, turning them into active participants equipped with innovative technologies for increasing DER-based energy supply. (c) New operation procedures that enhance electricity system flexibility to manage uncertainties and new ways to operate the grid that reduce wind/solar curtailment due to grid congestion. The specific research objectives include: 1) activate the grid edge for new business models empowering the consumer with peer-to-peer and transactive controls and markets; 2) ensure stable and reliable use of customer side DER by the grid operator in power electronics-dominated systems with ubiquitous grid-forming converters and hierarchical controls; and 3) manage simultaneously power grid technical and economical performance in the presence of uncertainties, using data-driven and AI-enabled automatic operations. The program will engage strongly in the training of highly qualified personnel at the three university cycles by involving students at the bachelor's, master's and PhD levels in the design and implementation of advanced DER technologies at the core of the three main research tracks. In addition, these students will carry out the transfer of knowledge and technology to the industry through internships with IREQ, MITACS or Alliance funding and high-paying jobs after graduation. The transfer to industry of technologies developed in the context of this major project is indeed a very important part of the students' research program and training philosophy.