Download IEEE GreenTech Conference Distributed Energy Resources

IEEE GreenTech Conference
Distributed Energy Resources– Understanding the Current Challenges and
Opportunities Technical Training Through Case Studies
Workshop Outline
Background Information:
Distributed energy resources (DER) are widely distributed geographically and are intermittent in
nature, thus they are difficult to control and dispatch like the more traditional sources of
generation. Large electrical power networks have historically been designed using centralized
power generating stations supplying customer loads over interconnected transmission and
distribution networks. Increasing the penetration level of distributed renewable energy sources
requires adjustments to the existing operating procedure and design philosophy of large-scale
power systems.
Audience:
This workshop is designed to bring together a diverse group of participants, most with engineering
backgrounds. Students, practicing engineers, regulators, analysts, managers, and utility engineers all
share a common goal of developing a better understanding of the political, societal, and technical
impacts associated with renewable energy integration. The workshop provides an opportunity for
the various groups to interact, thereby sharing their experiences and knowledge in an open forum.
This workshop is primarily intended for professionals working at the distribution level and for those
wishing to learn more about the electric utility business and the electrical distribution system, so the
challenges and opportunities for integrating renewable energy resources into electrical distribution
systems will be featured.
Workshop Format:
The morning session presents a higher-level overview of distributed energy resources, energy use,
and energy technologies and will finish up with an in-depth discussion of distributed generation
interconnection issues. The afternoon sessions will focus on many of the technical concerns, tools,
modeling platforms and mitigation measures employed by many utilities. And several case studies of
larger (and smaller) PV systems will be discussed. Non-technical and technical professionals are
welcome to attend both sessions. Nevertheless, attendees are encouraged to browse through the
workshop outline to identify the sessions/topics that are the most relevant to their work as well as
being presented at an appropriate technical level. The intent of the workshop is to encourage
audience interaction by soliciting input from all participants, using distributed generation
interconnection case studies to facilitate discussions.
Morning Session
Welcome and Introduction of topics:
NREL/DOE are focused on reducing the barriers to distributed generation system integration. This
introduction will offer some insight into national goals, current trends, and common challenges
associated with the changing utility landscape that is due to the rapid deployment of interconnected
distributed energy resource (DER or DG) systems.
Energy System Basics:
This session is designed to provide an overview of the electric power grid. The current status of
energy usage across the globe, in the United States, and within the Northeast regions of operation
will be investigated. This topic will be followed by a quick review of the driving forces (e.g.,
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)) and future challenges facing the energy delivery sector.
Conventional Generation Systems:
This session is intended to provide a very brief overview of the conventional generation
technologies (rotating machines) and their classification.


Thermal Generating Stations
o Coal Fired Plants, Nuclear, Biomass Direct Combustion, Combustion (Gas) Turbine Plants
(Simple Cycle and Combined Cycle)
Hydroelectric Generating Stations (Dams and Pumped Storage)
Transmission and Distribution Systems:
This session is intended to provide a brief overview of transmission and distribution systems. The
primary focus of this session will be to discuss the major differences between the two systems.
Historically, distribution systems have been designed as radial systems where the flow of energy is
in one direction only. Distribution systems are starting to evolve into systems resembling
transmission networks due to the growing amount of DG. Consequently, it is important that the
workshop participants have a basic understanding of bi-directional and looped networks (i.e.
transmission systems).
Break:
Distributed Energy Systems:
This session features a synopsis of wind energy, solar energy, and bioenergy distributed resource
technologies and their classification. In addition to providing a very brief overview of the
technologies, characteristics of non-dispatchable resources (variability and uncertainty) will be
highlighted. This is to be followed by an overview of where power electronics are used in renewable
energy and distributed generation applications including a general discussion of how they work.




Wind Energy
o The Resource, Wind Energy Variability and Uncertainty, Wind Turbine Types
Solar Energy
o The Resource, Solar Energy Variability and Uncertainty, Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, Solar
Thermal Electric Systems
Bioenergy / Electronics
Bioenergy
2

o The Resource, Bioenergy Conversion
Power Electronics
o How Power Electronic Converters Work
o Power Electronic Functions
o Applications (Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG), Inverters)
Applicable Standards and Codes:
This session will offer an overview of relevant interconnection standards and codes, including;
 NESC - National Electrical Safety Code (Utility Safety)
 NEC - National Electrical Code (Home and Business)
 ANSI C84.1 – Electric Power Systems and Equipment – Voltage Ratings (60 Hz)
 UL 1741: Standards for Inverters. Inverters must be “listed and labeled” under UL1741.
 UL1741SA: This Supplement A is the standard for smart inverter functionality, covering several
of the most critical advanced functions in use in California and other markets.
 IEEE 1547 Series Standards: Interconnection of Distributed Resources to Utilities
o 1547-2011 and full revision - Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources (DR)
with Electric Power Systems. This standard is under full revision, so many of those topics
will be discussed
o 1547a Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources (DR) with Electric Power
Systems (EPS) Amendment 1
o 1547.1-2005/R10 Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting DR with
EPS
o 1547.2-2008 Application Guide for IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting DR with EPS
o 1547.3-2007 Guide for Monitoring, Information Exchange, and Control of DR
o 1547.4-2011 Guide for Design, Operation, and Integration of DR Island Systems with EPS
(Microgrids)
o 1547.6 -2011 Recommended Practice for Interconnecting DR with EPS Distribution
Secondary Networks
o 1547.7 Draft Guide for Conducting Distribution Impact Studies for Distributed Resources
Interconnection
 Current Projects
o IEEE P1547 (full revision) Draft Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of
Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces
Utility Operations, Interconnection of Distributed Generation:
An in-depth perspective of some of the major technical concerns associated with the
interconnection of high penetration distributed generation at the distribution level. There will be a
significant focus on the entire interconnection approach taken by various utilities, from application
to impact study to mitigation approaches – audience members will decide which approaches are
best practices and where the gaps lie.
Lunch: (12:00 pm – 1:00 pm)
3
Afternoon Session
Distributed Generation (Solar and Small Wind):
The following list of topics will be highlighted.
 Voltage/VAR Regulation and Grounding
 Protection Design and Coordination
 Power Quality (Harmonics, Flicker, and DC Injection)
 Unintentional Islanding
 Power Hardware In the Loop (PHIL) and advanced testing methods used in research laboratories
Break:
Distribution Modeling Methods, Programs, and Tools:
This session will focus on a broad spectrum of distribution modeling platforms, approaches, and
tools used by most U.S. utilities, universities, and researchers such as national laboratories. There
will be an overview of typical steady-state load studies and voltage heat maps used by distribution
engineers today (CYME, SynerGEE, WindMil, DEW, etc.). The topic will then dig deeper into more
analytical research tools and modeling platforms used today including OpenDSS and GridLAB-D, as
well as other proprietary tools in use or under development. The goal will be to inform the audience
of the state-of-the-art modeling platforms and some of the more complex quasi-static-time-series
analysis used by researchers and perhaps by some utility engineers, and the discussion will look at
the future of where these tools need to go in order to understand the impacts and mitigation
strategies for dealing with larger levels of PV and other DG systems.
Case Studies:
This session will focus on several case studies of larger PV systems (and one smaller PV system)
interconnected onto distribution feeders in the U.S. and will also focus on larger systems such as
Hawaii, Germany, and the status of states that have higher goals (California) and new models for
utility operations (New York).
 Hawaiian experience with wind, solar and a 100% of RE by 2045
 New York’s REV program
 Con Edison Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program
 Several large PV system case studies
 Emerging interconnection methodologies
 Secondary Network PV System Interconnection
 Small PV systems
Concluding Remarks and Workshop Assessment Questionnaire:
4