An overview of grid-edge control with the digital transformation

Abstract

Distribution networks are evolving to become more responsive with increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and digital transformation at the grid edges. This evolution imposes many challenges to the operation of the network, which then calls for new control and operation paradigms. Among others, a so-called grid-edge control is emerging to harmonise the coexistence of the grid control system and DER’s autonomous control. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the grid-edge control with various control architectures, layers, and strategies. The challenges and opportunities for such an approach at the grid edge with the integration of DERs and digital transformation are summarised. The potential solutions to support the network operation by using the inherent controllability of DER and the availability of the digital transformation at the grid edges are discussed.

Digitalization Processes in Distribution Grids: A Comprehensive Review of Strategies and Challenges

“…With the increasing integration of DERs and digital advancements, grid control is becoming more crucial in power distribution networks. The concept of grid-edge control is reported upon in [181], it proposes integrating traditional grid systems with the autonomous control of DERs to effectively address integration challenges.…”

Digitalization Processes in Distribution Grids: A Comprehensive Review of Strategies and Challenges

“…With the increasing integration of DERs and digital advancements, grid control is becoming more crucial in power distribution networks. The concept of grid-edge control is reported upon in [181], it proposes integrating traditional grid systems with the autonomous control of DERs to effectively address integration challenges.…”

Scalable multi-agent reinforcement learning for distributed control of residential energy flexibility

“…In implicit coordination strategies, on the other hand, DERs are coordinated without sharing personal data [5]. Advantages include reduced complexity and costs of the ICT infrastructure, enhanced privacy, self-control and acceptability for users, robustness against failures, and reliability [23,25]. In RLbased implementations, the data access and computational burden needs are shifted to a pre-training phase, when agents learn individual policies in a shared environment.…”

An Efficient Methodology for Locating and Sizing PV Generators in Radial Distribution Networks Using a Mixed-Integer Conic Relaxation

“…Regardless of the motivation for massively including renewable energy resources in electrical distribution networks, it is a fact that conventional passive distribution systems have stayed behind, and active networks require new research and developments in order to optimize their technical, economic, digital, and environmental dimensions [14].…”

Digitalization Processes in Distribution Grids: A Comprehensive Review of Strategies and Challenges

“…With the increasing integration of DERs and digital advancements, grid control is becoming more crucial in power distribution networks. The concept of grid-edge control is reported upon in [181], it proposes integrating traditional grid systems with the autonomous control of DERs to effectively address integration challenges.…”

Scalable multi-agent reinforcement learning for distributed control of residential energy flexibility

“…In implicit coordination strategies, on the other hand, DERs are coordinated without sharing personal data [5]. Advantages include reduced complexity and costs of the ICT infrastructure, enhanced privacy, self-control and acceptability for users, robustness against failures, and reliability [23,25]. In RLbased implementations, the data access and computational burden needs are shifted to a pre-training phase, when agents learn individual policies in a shared environment.…”

An Efficient Methodology for Locating and Sizing PV Generators in Radial Distribution Networks Using a Mixed-Integer Conic Relaxation

“…Regardless of the motivation for massively including renewable energy resources in electrical distribution networks, it is a fact that conventional passive distribution systems have stayed behind, and active networks require new research and developments in order to optimize their technical, economic, digital, and environmental dimensions [14].…”

Digitalization Processes in Distribution Grids: A Comprehensive Review of Strategies and Challenges

“…With the increasing integration of DERs and digital advancements, grid control is becoming more crucial in power distribution networks. The concept of grid-edge control is reported upon in [181], it proposes integrating traditional grid systems with the autonomous control of DERs to effectively address integration challenges.…”

Scalable multi-agent reinforcement learning for distributed control of residential energy flexibility

“…In implicit coordination strategies, on the other hand, DERs are coordinated without sharing personal data [5]. Advantages include reduced complexity and costs of the ICT infrastructure, enhanced privacy, self-control and acceptability for users, robustness against failures, and reliability [23,25]. In RLbased implementations, the data access and computational burden needs are shifted to a pre-training phase, when agents learn individual policies in a shared environment.…”

An Efficient Methodology for Locating and Sizing PV Generators in Radial Distribution Networks Using a Mixed-Integer Conic Relaxation

“…Regardless of the motivation for massively including renewable energy resources in electrical distribution networks, it is a fact that conventional passive distribution systems have stayed behind, and active networks require new research and developments in order to optimize their technical, economic, digital, and environmental dimensions [14].…”