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In order to overcome challenges associated with the integration of distributed energy resources (DER) into state-of-the-art and future power grids, a common basis for testing using appropriate benchmark systems is required. Real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation has proven to be an advanced and efficient tool for the analysis and validation of electric power systems and DER components. However, a common methodology for HIL testing of DER along with the required set of reference systems has not yet been developed. This task-force paper proposes a benchmark system for HIL testing incorporating DER into the real-time simulation environment. A low-voltage benchmark system with detailed HIL setup is proposed for the testing of DER performance. The modeling of DER for real-time applications is discussed, and the detailed laboratory procedures and setups for both controller HIL (CHIL) and power HIL (PHIL) are provided. Results from CHIL simulation related to the centralized controls and experimental results of PHIL simulation related to local control on the benchmark system substantiate the suitability of the proposed real-time simulation approach.

The role of flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTSs) in the provision of grid services is becoming increasingly important, due to the massive integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and the decommissioning of thermal plants. A comprehensive literature review of grid services offered by FACTS is performed, focusing on the different grid services that they can provide, such as power flow control, reactive power control, voltage control, power quality improvement, harmonic mitigation, improvement of transient stability, and damping of inter-area and intra-area oscillations. These grid services need to be realistically and economically validated in suitable testing environments. A review of relevant standards, guides, and the literature is performed, which covers the entire range from functional specification and factory testing up to the field testing of FACTS. Advanced industry practices, such as controller hardware in the loop (CHIL) testing of FACTS controllers by the manufacturer, and recent trends, such as CHIL testing of replica controllers by the owner, are underlined. Limitations of conventional testing and CHIL testing are explained and the use of power hardware in the loop (PHIL) simulation for FACTS testing is discussed. CHIL and scaled-down PHIL tests on a transmission static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) are performed and a comparison of the results is presented.

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Microgrids (MGs), as novel paradigms of active Distribution Networks, have been gaining increasing interest by the research community in the last 20 years. Currently, they are considered as key components in power system decentralization, providing viable solutions for rural electrification, enhancing resilience and supporting local energy communities. Their main characteristic is the coordinated control of the interconnected distributed energy resources (DER), which can be realized by various methods, ranging from decentralized communicationfree approaches to centralized ones, where decisions are taken at a central point. This paper provides an overview of this development focusing on the technical control solutions proposed by reseachers for the various levels of MG organization hierarchy. A critical assessment of selected, popular technologies is provided and open research questions regarding the trend to more decentralized power systems are discussed.

The complexity of a smart grid with a high share of renewable energy resources introduces several issues in testing power equipment and controls. In this context, real-time simulation and Hardware in the Loop (HIL) techniques can tackle these problems that are typical for power system testing. However, implementing a convoluted HIL setup in a single infrastructure can be physically impossible or can increase the time required to test a smart grid application in detail. This paper introduces the Joint Test Facility for Smart Energy Networks with Distributed Energy Resources (JaNDER) that allows users to exchange data in real-time between two or more infrastructures. This tool enables the integration of infrastructures, exploiting the synergies between them, and creating a virtual infrastructure that can perform more experiments using a combination of the resources installed in each infrastructure. In particular, JaNDER can extend a HIL setup. In order to validate this new testing concept, a coordinated voltage controller has been tested in a Controller HIL setup where JaNDER was used to interact with an actual On Load Tap Changer (OLTC) controller located in a remote infrastructure. The results show that the latency introduced by JaNDER is not critical; hence, under certain circumstances, it can be used to expand the real-time testing without affecting the stability of the experiment.