On the Impact of Using Public Network Communication Infrastructure for Voltage Control Coordination in Smart Grid Scenario

ICT Based HIL Validation of Voltage Control Coordination in Smart Grids Scenarios

“…Since the work presented in [1,[6][7][8]16] is mainly based on offline or non-Real-Time (non-RT) co-simulation framework, the authors in this paper prove through real-time set of recordings that the control concepts developed in [1,6,16] are valid. The validation is done by first verifying and validating the proposed ICT model for non-RT studies in [7,8] through different test cases against the complete network model and related data traffic implemented in the SES Lab. Based on the results, the validation of coordinated voltage control for ReGen plants in Medium Voltage (MV) grids is achieved.…”

“…The violation of this limit at certain points within the grid may possibly lead to severe stability problems and damage to the entire power system [6]. Although each ReGen plant can contribute to voltage regulation, as ascertained in [7,16], there can be additional control objectives required by the DSO, for example to reduce the grid power losses caused by reactive power provision. This objective can be accomplished by optimizing the control settings in the distributed online coordination scheme, as defined in [16], which constitutes an NCS of the SG developed on top of a communication network.…”

“…are already extensively deployed by the telecom operators throughout Europe with high coverage [34]. Therefore, in their previous work [7], the authors demonstrated (via offline simulations) on the use of the existing cellular network communication infrastructure and showed how it effects the provision of online voltage control and coordination functionalities from ReGen plants in distributed grids. Through non-RT simulation results, it is shown in [7] that, under normal network conditions, the cellular networks support the proposed online voltage control and coordination functionalities for ReGen plants in distribution grids.…”

“…Similarly, relying on the underlying communication networks to address voltage stability challenges (e.g., related to volatile voltage excursions in distribution systems) in power systems with large penetration of ReGen plants will put high responsibility on these networks. The authors have demonstrated the impact of using public network communication (i.e., cellular networks) for voltage control coordination from ReGen plants in [7,8], and also highlighted the challenges and risks associated to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the said scenario.…”

“…The concept and design of online voltage support from ReGen plants has already been published [1,6,16], while the authors in [7,8] have illustrated the impact and associated risks (such as cyberattacks) of using existing public network communication infrastructure on the online voltage control coordination from ReGen plants in distributed grids, respectively. Since the work presented in [1,[6][7][8]16] is mainly based on offline or non-Real-Time (non-RT) co-simulation framework, the authors in this paper prove through real-time set of recordings that the control concepts developed in [1,6,16] are valid. The validation is done by first verifying and validating the proposed ICT model for non-RT studies in [7,8] through different test cases against the complete network model and related data traffic implemented in the SES Lab.…”