Shamukh, Nagadev | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2025

Interoperable, Inverter - Based Distributed Energy Resources Enable 100% Renewable and Resilient Utility Microgrids

As microgrids transition away from use of conventional generating resources and increasingly rely on renewable resources towards decarbonization goals, it is crucial to evaluate the capability inverter-based resources to provide microgrid stability and resilience. Particularly, microgrids with a high contribution of intermittent solar photo voltaic generation and higher load variability present unique challenges requiring fast voltage and frequency support. At the San Diego Gas & Electric Company(R) (SDG&E(R)) Borrego Springs Microgrid, a battery inverter was upgraded with grid-forming (GFM) capability to serve as island leader, transitioning responsibility away from diesel generators. An interoperable microgrid control scheme was developed, coordinating GFM and grid-following (GFL) inverters. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations using relevant power and controller HIL interfaces between real-time simulators and field equipment are being conducted to de-risk field deployment.

battery energy storage↗

DOE OSTI2022

Transient Stability Study of a Real-World Microgrid with 100% Renewables

This paper performs a transient stability study of a real-world microgrid that can operate with 100% renewables to better understand the stability and reliability of the microgrid under various dynamic scenarios. In particular, the operation of multiple grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) inverters in such a power system is not well understood under dynamic operation conditions, such as islanding and black start; therefore, in this paper, an electromagnetic transient model of the microgrid is developed to investigate the stability of the system under various dynamic operating conditions and to identify potential reliability risks. The PSCAD/EMTDC simulation with the high-fidelity model provides helpful insights into the optimal operation modes of GFM and GFL inverters as well as the stability and reliability of the microgrid. It can also inform field deployment in terms of inverter control parameters and coordination as well as the expected performance of black start and unplanned islanding.

black start↗

DOE OSTI2022

Transient Stability Study of a Real-World Microgrid with 100% Renewables: Preprint

This paper performs a transient stability study of a real-world microgrid with 100% renewables to fully understand the stability and reliability of the microgrid under various dynamic scenarios. In particular, the operation of multiple grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) inverters in such a power system is not well understood under dynamic operation conditions, such as islanding and black start; therefore, in this paper, the full-scale electromagnetic transient modeling of the microgrid is developed to investigate the stability of the system under various dynamic operating conditions and to identify potential reliability risks. The PSCAD/EMTDC simulation with the high-fidelity model provides helpful insights into the optimal operation modes of GFM and GFL inverters as well as the stability and reliability of the microgrid, which gives good references for the field deployment in terms of inverter configuration and coordination as well as the capabilities of black start and unplanned islanding.

100% renewable microgrid↗

DOE OSTI2022

Transient Stability Study of a Real-World Microgrid with 100% Renewables

This paper performs a transient stability study of a real-world microgrid that can operate with 100% renewables to better understand the stability and reliability of the microgrid under various dynamic scenarios. In particular, the operation of multiple grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) inverters in such a power system is not well understood under dynamic operation conditions, such as islanding and black start; therefore, in this paper, an electromagnetic transient model of the microgrid is developed to investigate the stability of the system under various dynamic operating conditions and to identify potential reliability risks. The PSCAD/EMTDC simulation with the high-fidelity model provides helpful insights into the optimal operation modes of GFM and GFL inverters as well as the stability and reliability of the microgrid. It can also inform field deployment in terms of inverter control parameters and coordination as well as the expected performance of black start and unplanned islanding.

black start↗