Sustainable Power Grids with High Penetration of Distributed Energy Resources

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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.