Ancillary Services 4.0: A Top-To-Bottom Control-Based Approach for Solving Ancillary Services Problems in Smart Grids

Power systems are experiencing a large amount of renewable generation with highly stochastic and partly unpredictable characteristics. This change in energy production implies significant consequences related to the provision of ancillary services (AS). Current markets dedicated to the provision of AS are not able to benefit from the flexible energy resources. They also cannot cope with the new level of stochasticity, non-linearity and dynamics of generation and flexibility. To overcome such issues and exploit the potential of flexibility resources, a new strategy is required. In this paper, by capitalising on flexibility resources’ potential, AS 4.0 approach is proposed, which offers a comprehensive solution for the AS provision in the smart grid era

Integration of distributed energy resources in isolated microgrids: the Colombian paradigm

La electrificación de áreas rurales o aisladas, junto con las crecientes preocupaciones ambientales, han promovido la aparición de Recursos Energéticos Distribuidos (DER), y la operación por microrredes aisladas. Sin embargo, la integración de dichos recursos trae consigo problemas técnicos relacionados con la confiabilidad y la continuidad del suministro de electricidad. De hecho, la variabilidad e incertidumbre del recurso primario de las fuentes de generación renovables y la poca inercia de las microrredes aisladas son desafíos que se enfrentan en la operación de estos sistemas de distribución. Una forma de responder a estos desafíos es brindando servicios complementarios a través de todos los recursos inmersos en el funcionamiento del sistema (activos de generación, participación de la demanda y sistemas de almacenamiento). Este artículo muestra una revisión de los desafíos y beneficios potenciales de la Integración de DER, en la operación del sistema de distribución reportados en la literatura, junto con algunas estrategias comunes para mitigar la vulnerabilidad de la introducción de estas tecnologías en microrredes. Asimismo, realiza una evaluación del estado actual de cada recurso en Colombia; finalmente, se describen algunas estrategias para aumentar del impacto de los beneficios de la Integración de DER y la superación de algunos desafíos planteados en la operación por microredes en Colombia. Para ello, se considera a las regiones aisladas de Colombia como un laboratorio natural, donde sería posible analizar los efectos de la Integración de DER, así como los requisitos para la operación por parte de las unidades de producción locales.The electrification of rural or isolated areas coupled with increasing environmental concerns have promoted the emergence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and the operation by isolated microgrids. However, the integration of such resources involves technical issues related to the reliability and continuity of the electricity supply. Indeed, the uncertainty of renewable generation sources and the reduced inertia of isolated microgrids are challenges for the operation of these distribution systems. One way to address them is by providing ancillary services through all the resources involved in the system’s operation (generation assets, demand share, and storage systems). Accordingly, this paper first presents a literature review of the challenges and potential benefits of integrating DERs into the operation of a distribution system. It also includes some common strategies to mitigate the vulnerability of the introduction of these technologies in microgrids. Afterwards, the current state of each type of resource in Colombia is assessed. Finally, some basic strategies that enhance the benefits of DER integration are outlined along with the overcoming of challenges of microgrid operation in said country. To that end, we consider isolated Colombian regions to be natural laboratories where the effects of DER integration and the requirements for the operation by local production units can be analyzed

Applications, Operational Architectures and Development of Virtual Power Plants as a Strategy to Facilitate the Integration of Distributed Energy Resources

In this article, we focus on the development and scope of virtual power plants (VPPs) as a strategy to facilitate the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the power system. Firstly, the concepts about VPPs and their scope and limitations are introduced. Secondly, smart management systems for the integration of DERs are considered and a scheme of DER management through a bottom-up strategy is proposed. Then, we analyze the coordination of VPPs with the system operators and their commercial integration in the electricity markets. Finally, the challenges that must be overcome to achieve the large-scale implementation of VPPs in the power system are identified and discussed.The authors acknowledge the support from GISEL research group IT1191-19, as well as from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (research group funding 181/18)

Integración de los recursos energéticos distribuidos en microrredes aisladas: paradigma colombiano

The electrification of rural or isolated areas coupled with increasing environmental concerns have promoted the emergence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and the operation by isolated microgrids. However, the integration of such resources involves technical issues related to the reliability and continuity of the electricity supply. Indeed, the uncertainty of renewable generation sources and the reduced inertia of isolated microgrids are challenges for the operation of these distribution systems. One way to address them is by providing ancillary services through all the resources involved in the system’s operation (generation assets, demand share, and storage systems). Accordingly, this paper first presents a literature review of the challenges and potential benefits of integrating DERs into the operation of a distribution system. It also includes some common strategies to mitigate the vulnerability of the introduction of these technologies in microgrids. Afterwards, the current state of each type of resource in Colombia is assessed. Finally, some basic strategies that enhance the benefits of DER integration are outlined along with the overcoming of challenges of microgrid operation in said country. To that end, we consider isolated Colombian regions to be natural laboratories where the effects of DER integration and the requirements for the operation by local production units can be analyzed.La electrificación de áreas rurales o aisladas, junto con las crecientes preocupaciones ambientales, han promovido la aparición de Recursos Energéticos Distribuidos (DER), y la operación por microrredes aisladas. Sin embargo, la integración de dichos recursos trae consigo problemas técnicos relacionados con la confiabilidad y la continuidad del suministro de electricidad. De hecho, la variabilidad e incertidumbre del recurso primario de las fuentes de generación renovables y la poca inercia de las microrredes aisladas son desafíos que se enfrentan en la operación de estos sistemas de distribución. Una forma de responder a estos desafíos es brindando servicios complementarios a través de todos los recursos inmersos en el funcionamiento del sistema (activos de generación, participación de la demanda y sistemas de almacenamiento). Este artículo muestra una revisión de los desafíos y beneficios potenciales de la Integración de DER, en la operación del sistema de distribución reportados en la literatura, junto con algunas estrategias comunes para mitigar la vulnerabilidad de la introducción de estas tecnologías en microrredes. Asimismo, realiza una evaluación del estado actual de cada recurso en Colombia; finalmente, se describen algunas estrategias para aumentar del impacto de los beneficios de la Integración de DER y la superación de algunos desafíos planteados en la operación por microredes en Colombia. Para ello, se considera a las regiones aisladas de Colombia como un laboratorio natural, donde sería posible analizar los efectos de la Integración de DER, así como los requisitos para la operación por parte de las unidades de producción locales

A review on economic and technical operation of active distribution systems

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Along with the advent of restructuring in power systems, considerable integration of renewable energy resources has motivated the transition of traditional distribution networks (DNs) toward new active ones. In the meanwhile, rapid technology advances have provided great potentials for future bulk utilization of generation units as well as the energy storage (ES) systems in the distribution section. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the operation of active distribution systems (ADSs) from the viewpoint of operational time-hierarchy. To be more specific, this time-hierarchy consists of two stages, and at the first stage of this time-hierarchy, four major economic factors, by which the operation of traditional passive DNs is evolved to new active DNs, are described. Then the second stage of the time-hierarchy refers to technical management and power quality correction of ADSs in terms of static, dynamic and transient periods. In the end, some required modeling and control developments for the optimal operation of ADSs are discussed. As opposed to previous review papers, potential applications of devices in the ADS are investigated considering their operational time-intervals. Since some of the compensating devices, storage units and generating sources may have different applications regarding the time scale of their utilization, this paper considers real scenario system operations in which components of the network are firstly scheduled for the specified period ahead; then their deviations of operating status from reference points are modified during three time-intervals covering static, dynamic and transient periods

Analysis of measures to increment the share of renewable energy in distribution grids

The actual power system is undergoing a period of transformation. The introduction of renewable energy power parks in the grid started the transition from a high voltage connected generation model towards a model where part of the generation assets will be connected to medium and even low voltage grids. Furthermore, the fast-changing world of technology is starting to allow passive users to generate and manage electricity, and thus, take a new position towards the grid. This transformation entails new opportunities and challenges for a power system that was initially thought to be vertically integrated and with unidirectional power flows. Europe is already giving its directives to ease the transition towards a more decentralized power system; however, some member states are faster than others when transposing them. Taking advantage of the different speeds between member states, this thesis aims to analyse and compare those pioneering regulatory frameworks in terms of renewable energy sources connection to distribution grids. This should allow the thesis to identify which kind of measures are the best ones to increase the share of renewable energy sources. In order to carry out the research, a systematic review of technical and energy policy articles has been carried out consulting the ScienceDirect, the IEEE Xplore, and the ResearchGate databases, together with European directives and regulations in the field of energy policies and member states network codes for connection of generation assets. The core of the thesis is based on a few institutions and documents which we would like to highlight. To set the technical basis of the impact of renewable energy sources, the book Integration of Distributed Generation in the Power System has been used. In terms of conceptualizing the regulatory framework the Florence School of Regulation technical reports The EU Electricity Network Codes and the Clean Energy Package are essential to this thesis together with the European energy e-Directive and e-Regulation. The report The smartEn Map: European Balancing Markets Edition (2018) published by smartEn has been used as a reference point to study the state of the art of balancing markets. Finally, the network codes for Low Voltage Grid Connection of Generators from Italy, Germany and Denmark are the base for the development of the energy storage section. The European directives and regulations point towards a market-based approach to overcome the challenges and benefit from the opportunities that the transition towards a distributed power system will create. The thesis go from a holistic view, considering the new European guidelines, to a study of those member states that are already half-way on their transition towards a distributed power system based on renewable energy sources. This is will give an overview of the current regulatory framework and find the main outlines of the forthcoming one. Finally, comment that one of the outcomes of the research carried out during the thesis is the participation in the conference paper "RESOlvD: ICT services and energy storage for increasing renewable hosting capacity in LV distribution grids". The paper has been approved for publication, and it can be partially consulted in the Annex A of the thesis

Towards flexibility trading at TSO-DSO-customer levels : a review

The serious problem of climate change has led the energy sector to modify its generation resources from fuel-based power plants to environmentally friendly renewable resources. However, these green resources are highly intermittent due to weather dependency and they produce increased risks of stability issues in power systems. The deployment of different flexible resources can help the system to become more resilient and secure against uncertainties caused by renewables. Flexible resources can be located at different levels in power systems like, for example, at the transmission-level (TSO), distribution-level (DSO) and customer-level. Each of these levels may have different structures of flexibility trading as well. This paper conducts a comprehensive review from the recent research related to flexible resources at various system levels in smart grids and assesses the trading structures of these resources. Finally, it analyzes the application of a newly emerged ICT technology, blockchain, in the context of flexibility trading.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Towards Flexibility Trading at TSO-DSO-Customer Levels: A Review

The serious problem of climate change has led the energy sector to modify its generation resources from fuel-based power plants to environmentally friendly renewable resources. However, these green resources are highly intermittent due to weather dependency and they produce increased risks of stability issues in power systems. The deployment of different flexible resources can help the system to become more resilient and secure against uncertainties caused by renewables. Flexible resources can be located at different levels in power systems like, for example, at the transmission-level (TSO), distribution-level (DSO) and customer-level. Each of these levels may have different structures of flexibility trading as well. This paper conducts a comprehensive review from the recent research related to flexible resources at various system levels in smart grids and assesses the trading structures of these resources. Finally, it analyzes the application of a newly emerged ICT technology, blockchain, in the context of flexibility trading