Adaptive Control Strategies and Communications for Utility Integration of Photovoltaic Solar Sites
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Adaptive Control Strategies and Communications for Utility Integration of Photovoltaic Solar Sites Michael Mills-Price Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. Michael Rourke and Darrin Kite Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. Presented at the CIGRE-AORC Technical Meeting 2018 – International Conference on Global Energy Transition – Issues and Challenges Gangtok, India May 24–25, 2018 Previously presented at the NTPC Global Energy Technology Summit 2014, November 2014, and 50th Annual Minnesota Power Systems Conference, November 2014 Originally presented at the Power and Energy Automation Conference, March 2014 1 Adaptive Control Strategies and Communications for Utility Integration of Photovoltaic Solar Sites Michael Mills-Price, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. Michael Rourke and Darrin Kite, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. Abstract—The integration of photovoltaic (PV) solar sites and to conventional generation. California has the most aggressive other distributed energy resources (DERs) into utility control RPS that targets 33 percent renewable energy resources by systems is an increasingly important topic as the penetration 2020 with a goal of 12 GW of localized electricity generation. levels of these resources continue to increase. The evolving regulatory and operational landscape between DER operators California has also recognized the importance of revising the and regional utilities is creating opportunities for DERs to be DER technical requirements in California Public Utilities used in grid support activities. The inherently fast-acting Commission (CPUC) Rule 21 to accommodate the expected characteristics of inverters make them especially suited for short- rise in DER adoption into the distribution grid [1]. The duration sourcing and sinking of reactive power. This paper purpose for revising both IEEE 1547 and CPUC Rule 21 is to discusses how to address the communications integration and allow DERs greater flexibility in grid support activities, which activation of adaptive control strategies for these DER sites. An integrated control solution needs to address methods of collecting will enhance the reliability of the power system. wide-area power system state information in such a way that the In addition to changes in operating practices, grid feedback is available for potential control strategies. Network operators, over time, need to modify the existing infrastructure topology, communications protocols, time coherence, and data to transition from a passive distribution model in which update rates are considered. Additionally, PV sites can operate in energy is pushed from a central location to an active model a number of different control modes based on grid conditions where generation is located throughout the power distribution and available solar radiation. These modes can include power factor matching, power factor correction, voltage support, and network. Such a system requires many intelligent nodes with net metering, among others. This paper presents an overview of the dual capabilities of operating autonomously and the control and monitoring infrastructure necessary to support dynamically modifying operating parameters in response to emerging PV control methodologies. utility control signals. Power conversion devices are the base components in building this architecture. As an important first I. INTRODUCTION step, inverter manufacturers need to design and incorporate The adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) into state-of-the-art technologies that enable these devices to the electric power distribution system has increased rapidly provide voltage and frequency regulation at the point of over the past decade. This trend has accelerated greatly in the common coupling (PCC). past few years, with photovoltaic (PV) power production Another important consideration is the communications playing an increasingly important role. The growth in DERs is network that acts as the link between the intelligent nodes expected to continue into the future, largely driven by located throughout the distribution system. Without adequate renewable energy portfolio standards (RPSs) and concern over communications, it is impractical for automation systems to the adverse environmental impacts of hydrocarbon-based ascertain the correct system state and react appropriately to energy production. Utilities, especially those in states with changing system dynamics. An interface capable of aggressive RPS targets, need to adapt to a changing paradigm concentrating communications from power conversion devices in which distribution grids are intelligent and multidirectional and integrating with utility supervisory control and data and contain intermittent generation. acquisition (SCADA) systems decreases network bandwidth The increased DER deployment into the distribution grid, requirements and mitigates integration issues between designed for radial power flow, presents certain technical different technologies. These interface devices should also be challenges for maintaining power system stability. Present capable of processing automation logic and coordinating the regulations governing DER integration into electric power sending of control signals to localized device arrays or devices systems do not allow these resources to participate in power located across a wide geographic area. Depending on the system support activities. In fact, DERs are mandated to distribution architecture, there will likely be other components disconnect from the grid during periods of instability, which necessary to implement a reliable and dependable power in some circumstances actually exacerbates the instability. delivery system. Various industry and regulatory groups have identified this as The protection paradigms governing modern distribution an area for improvement. The IEEE has established a working systems are also affected by increased DER penetration. group to amend the IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting While this is an important topic and deserves consideration, it Distributed Resources With Electric Power Systems to reflect is outside the scope of this paper. This paper describes in an industry-wide desire for these resources to behave similar detail the component characteristics deemed essential to enable DERs to actively participate in grid support activities 2 and to respond to control signals sent from a utility control 3) Curtailment (Fixed Real Power Set Point) center. Control functions deemed essential for grid support are In curtailment mode, inverters produce a fixed amount of outlined along with discussion of their implementation in real output power that is below the nameplate capacity. For power inverter technologies. Methodologies for establishing no-backfeed interconnection agreements between a utility and an effective communications network capable of transmitting DER operator, designers commonly activate this mode to data securely and reliably with minimum latency are ensure the main breaker stays connected, even under a loss-of- discussed. Consideration is also given to the data models load event, by reducing the real output power delivery of the needed to ensure data coherency between the utility and the inverters. DER. Finally, this paper provides an overview of the 4) Ramp Rate integration characteristics necessary in a DER control The physical characteristics of power electronics-based network. devices allow rapid changes to the output waveform, which can cause harmonic injection and transient behavior at the II. INVERTER CONTROL FUNCTIONS PCC. The ramp rate setting allows the user to program a rate Inverters, as power electronics-based devices, have the of change of real power from one set point to the next in an capability to rapidly change the characteristics of their output attempt to smooth out deviations in output current. waveforms to respond to grid transient events such as voltage and frequency sags and swells. The inverter itself can control B. Dynamic Autonomous Functions real and reactive power (up to its nameplate kVA rating) in Unlike static operations, dynamic functions employ subcycle time frames in an attempt to counteract the grid externally measured feedback to maintain an operating transients as well as at a longer time scale (continually) to parameter within the power system. Either the inverter or assist in the steady-state operation of the bulk distribution and master controller (for a fleet of inverters) calculates the error transmission grid infrastructures. The three primary categories between measured values and set points to control the inverter of inverter response are as follows: outputs. The controller collects measurements either locally or Static or steady-state operation. remotely. Dynamic operation. 1) Volt/VAR Trip envelopes and ride-through capabilities. In volt/VAR mode, the inverter modifies the reactive While these control actions are feasible with modern power output (VAR) as a function of the measured system technology, grid and DER site operators need to remain voltage. The intent of this mode is that the inverter operates as cognizant of the regulatory environment governing the a local voltage regulator. If the measured system voltage dips activation of these control strategies. The following discussion below the operating thresholds, the inverter supplies VARs to summarizes the most commonly employed inverter control boost the voltage. Similarly, if system voltage rises, the functions. inverter sinks VARs to reduce the system voltage to within the A.