PNNL

Abstract

Electric distribution systems around the world are seeing an increasing number of utility-owned and non-utility-owned (customer-owned) intelligent devices and systems being deployed. New deployments of utility-owned assets include reconfiguration, self-healing systems, microgrids, and distribution automation. Non-utility-owned assets include solar photovoltaic generation, behind-the-meter energy storage systems, and electric vehicles. While these deployments provide potential data and control points, existing centralized control architectures do not have the flexibility to integrate the increasing number or variety of devices. The communication bandwidth, latency, and the scalability of a centralized control architecture limit the ability of these new devices and systems from being engaged as active resources. This paper presents a standards-based distributed control and protection system being designed for implementation within the Duke Energy service territory to increase the flexibility of deployed assets to improve reliability and resiliency. The system actively engages utility and non-utility assets using a distributed architecture to increase reliability during normal operations and resiliency during extreme events. Results from laboratory testing and preliminary field implementations, as well as details of an ongoing full-scale implementation, are presented.