The Internet of energy of MicroGrid the Small-scale distributed power generation

The power sector long time was noted by stability, but also it did not resist: endured series of crises. It was as a result not adapted for new market conditions in which one more factor – subsidies for renewable sources appeared. Thanks to these subsidies the renewable energy sources (RES) became more popular. There was also a place for promotion and implementation of the concept of mikrogrid.

MicroGrid is a system which includes own sources of generation of energy and in crisis situations it is capable to undertake a problem of satisfaction of demand of consumers. It is some kind of reduced version of a centralized system of power supply.

Mikrogrid, as a rule, works at connection to the general central network, but at any time he can be disconnected and work due to own generation of energy. And the most important – these "smart" power supply networks are capable to use above-mentioned renewable energy sources successfully.

In the local isolated area network mikrogrid there is no clear boundary of power. The pacing negative factors of application of RES and their impact on a local network are in the principle of power generation as it depends on climatic conditions. For example, purely island operation mode is excluded: RES are disconnected by the operator of network at emergence of the island mode in which participate or only alternative sources would participate. The second important factor is a high volatility at development of the energy. It is also possible to note weak predictability of volume of the developed energy.

In the near future the concept of "The Internet of energy" will create the market in such a way that electrical power infrastructure will become more distributed and available as cellular communication and the Internet. According to the report^[1], the distributed generation, including based on the renewable energy sources (RES), will become the dominating direction in world investments in a power complex in the nearest future.

"The Internet of energy" is a concept which assumes creation of local power infrastructure (micropower supply system or mikrogrid), into which producers and power consumers are integrated and within which they can freely exchange energy. The concept is constructed on absolutely other architecture which, unlike traditional, represents the decentralized electrical power system. Here the intellectual control of electric power flows exercised due to peer-to-peer power transaction between its users is implemented. Power transaction — the act of interaction of two and more subjects of micropower supply system which consists of three layers of power information exchange: financial and contractual, management information and physical (electric)^[2].

Small-scale "smart" power generation

"The Internet of energy" is a concept which assumes creation of local power infrastructure (micropower supply system or mikrogrid), into which producers and power consumers are integrated and within which they can freely exchange energy. The concept is constructed on absolutely other architecture which, unlike traditional, represents the decentralized electrical power system. Here the intellectual control of electric power flows exercised due to peer-to-peer power transaction between its users is implemented. Power transaction — the act of interaction of two and more subjects of micropower supply system which consists of three layers of power information exchange: financial and contractual, management information and physical (electric).

The hardware and software systems with a distributed architecture and management systems constructed using different methods of artificial intelligence which will provide are necessary for functioning of such micropower supply system:

• synthesis of contractual conditions (smart contracts);
• issue of the corrective actions on a power equipment corresponding to contractual conditions and providing accomplishment of technological limits;
• implementation of power exchange at the physical layer.

Finally implementation of the concept will lead to the fact that energy will become cheaper, "smart things" will join market participants, the network of small generators will be created, there will be more effective systems of accumulation of energy and infrastructure of distribution networks of 110 kV also will be created below. It is extremely important to achieve it as one of trends of development of global market is increase in demand for energy, especially in developing countries. By 2035 it is required to the world of electricity 60% more, than today^[3].

In Russia, despite the general power redundancy, the low cost of generation is with interest compensated by expensive "power" — costs for functioning of distribution infrastructure. The final prices for the consumer are influenced by such factors as low density of consumption, high capital value and constructions and low loading of capacities. The big share of industrial loading, socially oriented policy, market imperfection and industry regulation lead to permanent increase in prices for the electric power for business and gradually become a restraining factor for development of national economy, said in the report "Digital transition in power industry of Russia" of the Centre for Strategic Research (CSR). Besides, it is expected that the most part of the existing infrastructure will reach operation deadlines in 2020-2025.

At the same time priority industrial sectors (for example, production of the systems of accumulation of the electric power) only begin to form with noticeable lag from leaders of global market. In addition to the shortage of own technologies development of new power in the country constrains lack of necessary legal and technical regulation for an output to the market of new products and implementation of new business models, said in the "road map" approved by the government on improvement of the legislation and elimination of administrative barriers of NTI "Enerdzhinet".

"digital transition" and development of the retail segment of power industry which is based on infrastructure of distribution networks of 110 kV and below can solve the collected problems. For this purpose it is necessary to include in the legal framework of new subjects (prosumers, active consumers, aggregators), to deregulate the relations between them, to standardize interaction interfaces with the power pool system and to transform the energy markets, believe in TsSR. According to forecasts of the center, such maneuver will allow to contain increase in prices for the electric power (for 30–40% by 2035 in comparison with the inertial scenario) and will provide to the Russian companies potential sales market of $40 billion in size besides year.

Such transformation is provided by "road map" of NTI "Enerdzhinet". Its main objective — formation of conditions for leadership of the Russian companies in the new markets of the intelligent electric networks and premises for the advancing upgrade of electrical power infrastructure. A metaphor for a new round of development of power authors of NTI selected "The Internet of energy": it is about the systems of intellectual power on the basis of an open network architecture providing free integration and energy exchange between producers and consumers.

Let's note that "road map" covers not all range of the Russian power market: behind its framework there is a development of all traditional "big power" with large scale power stations and the transferring networks of high tension, and emphasis is put on the distributed generation and "smart" consumption as the most dynamically developing segments. Within the plan three key directions are selected: trusted and flexible networks, the distributed power and new services for end consumers on the basis of network software applications. Improvement of quality of power supply and development of power in the hardly accessible and isolated areas should become priorities of pilot projects.

As envisioned by developers the speech should go not about implementation of separate projects, and about formation of end-to-end systems and services of intellectual power: creation of new architecture of power market on the basis of the cyberphysical systems, distributed intelligence and smart contracts, development of a packet of international standards of new power and also creation of polygons, experimental platforms is supposed. Priority technologies were among: post-silicone power electronics, electrochemistry, weak artificial intelligence, the systems management and modeling generating design.

Technologies for the small-scale distributed power generation

Technologies of "The Internet of energy" well are suitable for the small-scale distributed power generation or mikrogrid (engl. MicroGrid). Such micropower supply systems are created for power supply of a local customer group of the electric power which experience difficulties with ensuring reliable and high-quality power supply. As a rule, consumers in the isolated settlements which do not have communications with big power supply system or having loose couplings treat such groups.

Creation of micropower supply system assumes installation of the power sources distributed on the electric network as traditional, and on the basis of RES and also installation of drives of the electric power. Such local power supply system including different types of producers and consumers of the electric power requires application of new type of management systems and protection which should provide their flexible integration into the general infrastructure of "The Internet of energy".

For creation of the devices supporting technologies of "The Internet of energy" it is necessary to carry out special tests for compatibility both at the physical layer of electric power transmission, and at the level of numerical control systems and protection. Prototypes of devices for implementation of this technology should pass tests in a complex with the real power devices which are switched on in a circuit of digital modeling. The complex representing special cyberphysical model of micropower supply system which one part is modelled in the digital simulator of real time (for example, such as RTDS) and other part is necessary for carrying out such tests is the real electric network with real physical devices (generators, inverters, drives, etc.).

Creation of such cyberphysical models for small distribution networks for working off of technology of "The Internet of energy" is very important task on the way to implementation of the concept of "The Internet of energy" as allows to debug all three layers of power information exchange and to implement in practice the mechanism of power transaction at a development stage of products and complete solutions.

However for carrying out such tests it is necessary to simulate full energy exchange between a digital part of model and its real physical part. It allows to make the special device which carries the name "four-quadrant power amplifier". Characteristic of four-quadrant power amplifiers, unlike normal, is their capability not only to issue power, but also to consume it. At the same time the currents and tension calculated in virtual model are injected in the real electric network by means of four-quadrant amplifiers.

Then reaction of a real physical part of model is digitized and entered into the digital simulator already on the next step of calculation (through 50 microsec). Such cyberphysical models allow to create, on the one hand, models mikrogrid big dimension, the including drives EE, RES and other perspective equipment within digital modeling, and on the other hand — in a physical part to connect the real equipment for carrying out researches and tests: power routers, electric power drives, the managed intellectual accessions, etc.

"The Internet of energy" in Russia

On November 29, 2019 reported to RVC that in Competence center of NTI based on MEI "Technologies of Transportation of the Electric Power and the Distributed Intelligent Power Supply Systems" the stage on commissioning of the special equipment began. Works are performed within the project on development of architecture of the Internet of energy for the purpose of implementation of the actions plan "Enerdzhinet" of the National technology initiative. Read more here.

Creation of a polygon of "Testbed 'Enerdzhinet'" working on Power Hardware in Loop (PHIL) technology is the first such project in Russia and one of the few in the world. Commissioning of a polygon of "Testbed 'Enerdzhinet'" will become an important milestone in implementation of the actions plan "Enerdzhinet" as will allow to bring developments of devices and systems to qualitatively new level.

You See Also

• Economy of Russia
• Enerdzhinet - the National Technology Initiative (NTI)
• Alternative power engineering (Russia and world)
• Power industry in Russia
• Solar power (world market)
• Wind power and wind power units (Russia and world)
• Nuclear power. Facts and myths
• Smart Grid (Smart Networks)
• Electric generators (market of Russia)
• ASCAPC

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