Technical Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis
Overcoming the challenges identified by technical modeling, simulation, and analysis will enable high levels of solar energy on the electrical power grid.
To accomplish this goal, the Systems Integration subprogram efforts encompass the following activities:
- Developing new distribution system modeling approaches and tools that take into account load control, demand response, distributed energy sources, storage, and customer preference characteristics.
- Creating a set of benchmark cases to test models and the associated software.
- Developing automated screening tools that evaluate benefits and impacts of photovoltaics (PV) on the distribution system so that all prospective installations can then be screened.
- Updating commercial load-flow and fault-current calculation software to handle multiple distributed energy sources on the system and develop a set of recommended practices for modeling PV inverters.
- Developing technical and economic models for the introduction of microgrids.
The ability of tools to accurately model renewable system components and systems is equally important to upgrading the analytical capabilities of these types of software.
Within the Systems Integration subprogram, the technical modeling, simulation, and analysis efforts are led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL).
Technical Analysis Activities
The first milestone in identifying the technical and analytical challenges was completion of the Renewable Systems Interconnection (RSI) study in 2007. The RSI study consists of 14 reports that address a range of issues on grid integration. The reports were developed collaboratively by a team of technical experts with valuable input from industry.
In 2008, SNL completed a white paper, Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems—Energy Storage (PDF 546 KB), on integrated storage in high-penetration PV scenarios. The paper describes the concept for enhancing the Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems activities with energy storage in residential and small commercial applications of less than 100 kilowatts. By providing increased value to both customers and utilities, integrated storage can increase penetration of distributed PV systems. Download Adobe Reader.
For microgrids, members of the Systems Integration team lend their expertise to the International Energy Agency PV Hybrid-Minigrids Group. This group reports on progress in PV hybrid power systems and minigrids that incorporate PV. The primary benefit of this international collaboration is in understanding how other countries are addressing PV grid integration issues.
Future technical modeling, simulation, and analysis projects include these:
- Developing a database for models of distributed renewable systems and components.
- Developing a method to integrate solar resource data sets and distributed renewable system models with electrical distribution system modeling.
- Examining high-penetration PV scenarios with production cost modeling.
- Developing PV/storage system requirements and use profiles through modeling of potential applications and systems, including command-and-control requirements.
- Conducting an initial study on the integration between plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and PV systems.