System automation and organisation for intelligent electricity networks

Abstract

The transition from conventional energy generation to clean energy generation based onrenewable energies is leading to a rapidly growing share of decentralised energy sources in theelectricity supply. As a result, fundamental changes in the electricity supply structure are takingplace, creating new challenges for the decentralised operation of future electricity grids. TheClustering Power Systems Approach (CPSA) provides a solution in terms of the organisationand subdivision of the electricity grid by allocating cluster areas for its structured automationand control. This research focuses on providing a suitable software system for decentralisedautomation and control systems based on the CPSA to meet the rapid changes and futurechallenges in electrical power networks.Using this approach, a developed software architecture design for automation and controlsystems, the so-called Smart Grid Cluster Controller (SGCC), was developed and is presentedin this doctoral thesis. A suitable method for digitally describing the structure of powernetworks and the data organisation of clustered power system status was researched, developedand validated under real grid operating conditions. The topology of decentralised power gridsis mapped by graph-based fundamental structures and enhanced by a novel Neighbour ClusterOverlapping Method (NCOM). In addition, a time-series database was used for decentralisedprocess data mapping, whereby a direct reference to the topology description was realised.Decentralised neighbouring grid cluster areas can be coordinated concerning the necessaryprocess data exchange.The results of the validated software architecture design, the graph-based cluster topologydescription using NCOM, and the organisation for decentralised process data exchange show asignificant contribution to conventional industrial automation systems for the application ofdecentralised automation and control. The results developed based on the research discussed inthis thesis provide the possibility of an organised and structured operation of increasinglydecentralised power networks