Mid-scale RI-2: Grid-Connected Testing Infrastructure for Networked Control of Distributed Energy Resources

由于需求不灵活、传统电网运营以及人类行为造成的不确定性，当前电网面临着有效整合可再生能源和分布式能源（DERs）的长期挑战。随着能源生产变得更加“绿色”和更加分散，以及电动汽车的激增，这一挑战变得更加严峻。分布式能源连接（DERConnect）基础设施项目设想了一个独特的开放访问和远程访问的国家测试平台设施，将加速方法和工具的开发，将实时数据分析、机器学习和分布式控制算法整合到未来动态条件下的电网架构中。DERConnect代表了首个完整的集成电网系统，能够在正常和对抗操作条件下探索电网运行和通信基础设施的联合优化。该项目完全符合中国清洁高效能源的优先目标。正如2017年和2019年国家可再生能源实验室研讨会所指出的那样，开发新电网技术的主要限制是缺乏大规模环境来测试和验证有效的控制算法。在该项目中创建的DERConnect测试平台将集成DERs的组合，包括光伏、电池储能、电动汽车、硬件模拟器（模拟太阳能和风能），以及可控制的建筑子系统，如照明和供暖、通风和空调子系统，使用模拟、仿真和物理硬件的组合。DERConnect将允许研究人员为复杂、可访问和可信赖的网络物理系统探索创新的分布式控制算法和工具，并研究人类、技术、信息获取和激励之间的相互作用。该基础设施满足了国家的高度需求，并为利益相关者提供了在现实和网络安全环境中对多个和不同的der的控制和操作进行研究的能力。DERConnect设施将为培训和发展下一代学生、教师和对美国电网成功现代化至关重要的劳动力提供新的机会。通过利用加州大学圣地亚哥分校的教育项目，DERConnect团队将为K-12学生和教师实施广泛的教育和推广活动，并与当地的STEM项目合作，如加州州立数学与科学暑期学校（COSMOS）和圣达菲社区学院。DERConnect项目是微电网设计和建设的理想培训基础，对依靠微电网基础设施保障能源安全的加州印第安部落具有无与伦比的好处。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The current power grid faces the long-term challenge of efficiently integrating renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs) due to demand inflexibility, legacy grid operations, and uncertainties caused by human behavior. This challenge becomes more acute as energy generation becomes ‘greener’ and more distributed, and as electric vehicles proliferate. The Distributed Energy Resources Connect (DERConnect) infrastructure project envisions a unique open-access and remote access national testbed facility that will accelerate the development of methods and tools that incorporate real-time data analytics, machine learning, and distributed control algorithms into future grid architectures under dynamic conditions. DERConnect represents a first-of-its-kind complete integrated grid system, enabling the exploration of joint optimization of grid operations and communications infrastructure in both normal and adversarial operating conditions. The project aligns well with the nation's high-priority goals of clean and efficient energy.As noted in 2017 and 2019 National Renewable Energy Laboratory workshops, the major limitation in developing new power grid technologies is the lack of large-scale environments to test and validate effective control algorithms. The DERConnect testbed being created in this project will integrate a combination of DERs, including photovoltaics, battery energy storage, electric vehicles, hardware emulators (to emulate solar and wind energy sources), and controllable building subsystems such as lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning subsystems using a combination of simulation, emulation, and physical hardware. The DERConnect will permit researchers to explore innovative distributed control algorithms and tools for complex, accessible, and trustworthy cyber-physical systems, and to study the interplay between humans, technology, access to information and incentives. The infrastructure facility addresses a high national need and offers stakeholders the ability to conduct research on the control and operation of multiple and diverse DERs in a realistic and cyber-secured environment. The DERConnect facility will be a platform for new opportunities to train and develop the next generation of students, teachers, and workforce critical for the successful modernization of the U.S. power grid. By leveraging University of California, San Diego education programs, the DERConnect team will implement extensive education and outreach activities for K-12 students and teachers, and partner with local STEM programs such as the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, called COSMOS, and the Santa Fe Community College. The DERConnect project is an ideal training basis for microgrid design and construction with unparalleled benefits to the California Native American tribes who rely on microgrid infrastructures for energy security.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.