Smart Grid Ready PV Inverters with Utility Communication

This project will develop, implement, and demonstrate smart-grid ready inverters with grid support functionality and required utility communication and control links to capture the full value of distributed PV. The key elements are:

• Head-end communications at the utility operations center through integration of distributed energy resource (DER) distribution management system (DMS)
• Back-end DER plant master controller
• Smart grid functionality built into inverters

The main goals are to leverage ongoing investments- in smart gird and related standards- and to expand PV inverter capabilities, which together will enable grid operators to better utilize these grid assets. PV inverter grid support functions will be put into practice using the distributed network communication protocol that enables utility operators to interact from central office-level DMS to the plant. Real world demonstrations will be carried out in three regions of the United States with four major utilities, each of which have different types of utility operating systems and implementations of utility-scale PV inverters.

Phase 1 of the project includes:

(1) Define functional requirements and configurability specifications
(2) Design and build smart grid functionality into PV inverters
(3) Build DER Plant Master Controller (PMC)
(4) Design and develop DER Distribution Management Systems (DMS)
(5) Model and study the impact of smart inverter to the distribution feeder
(6) Develop utility-controlled active anti-island scheme

Phase 2 of the project includes:

(7) Develop Test Plan for Laboratory and Field Evaluation
(8) Evaluate Smart Inverter and DER PMC in Laboratory/Factory
(9) Deploy Hardware and Software at the Demo Sites
(10) Implement DER PMC at Demo Sites
(11) Perform Generic and Demo Site Specific Feeder Simulations with and without Smart Grid Functionality
(12) Conduct workshop on Advanced PV Inverter and Power System Simulations
(13) Design Unique Test Plans/Sequences for each Demonstration Site
(14) Test Unintentional Island Prevention at Demonstration Sites
(15) Demonstrate Grid Supportive Functionality of Inverters

The scope of this project is to develop and demonstrate key elements of PV inverter grid support capabilities that will increase the distribution system’s capacity for higher penetration levels of PV, while reducing the cost up to 15%. PV inverter grid support functions will be put into practice using standard methods and communication protocols that will enable utility operators to interact with the plant for monitoring and management. Interactions may be frequent or infrequent depending on the capabilities of communication systems, with inverters performing smart autonomous behaviors in between.

At this time, this project does not have published articles, patents, or awards.