Project Directory

Title PI
Damping Inter-area Oscillations through Decoupled Modulations

The objective of this proposed work is to develop decoupled modulation control for damping inter-area low frequency oscillations, so the damping control can be more effective and easier to design with less interference among different oscillation modes in the system.  To minimize the interference and improve effectiveness, this proposed work will develop a decoupled modulation control mechanism oriented for being used in conjunction with advanced power flow control devices such as FACTS and HVDC transmission.

Huang, Zhenyu (Henry)
Data Conditioning and Validation Using Phasor-Only State Estimator

This project is developing a new approach for conditioning and validating synchrophasor data for real-time applications with the aim of providing experience-based recommendations for making the synchrophasor infrastructure more robust. Demonstration of a prototype is currently underway in partnership with Dominion Virginia Power.

Thorp, Jim
Data Integrity and Situational Awareness Tools (DISAT)

This project is applying advanced statistical data processing techniques to examine phasor measurements provided by the Bonneville Power Administration. It uses these techniques to identify trends in (or patterns involving) multiple phase angles or other measurements, which are difficult to identify using standard analysis approaches.

Tuffner, Frank Amidan, Brett
Designing and Testing Markets for Real and Reactive Power

The objective of this effort was to adapt the existing Pserc software platform (PowerWeb) so that it can be used effectively to test alternative ways of providing reactive power (primarily dynamic VArs) in a deregulated market.

Thomas, Robert J.
Development and Testing of New Tools

This project is developing modeling and simulation tools that take into account uncertainty in the context of multi-period scheduling and pricing for wholesale centralized electricity markets—such as those operated by ISO/RTOs. The current focus is on demonstrating the value of the SuperOPF approach using two-stage and receding-horizon market structures and integrating the generalized optimal power scheduling framework into MATPOWER.

To view the MATLAB Power System Simulation Package, click here.

Zimmerman, Ray
Development and Testing of Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS)

This project is demonstrating full-scale, on-line and off-line software prototype tools with Entergy, WECC, and Peak RC that detect and analyze system oscillations from either ambient or disturbed system PMU measurements. In contrast to other tools, these prototypes are capable of simultaneously processing hundreds of PMU measurements-rather than only a handful. Therefore, they can estimate oscillation characteristics such as the frequency, damping ratio, energy and mode shape of both local and inter-area oscillations across the wide-area power system.

Venkatasubramanian, Mani
Development of Attribute Preserving Network Equivalents

This project is developing algorithms to construct equivalent system models that preserve desired attributes and behaviors of an interconnected electric power grid. Special emphasis is placed on applying the algorithm to develop “backbone” equivalents for large networks, such as the entire Eastern Interconnection.

This project has been completed.

Overbye, Tom
Distribution PMU Scoping

In FY14, DOE initiated a scoping study to identify potential uses and benefits of installing phasor measurement units (PMUs) within electricity distribution systems and the associated research and development that is required to realize these benefits.

Eto, Joe
DOE/NIST Collaboration

This project involves coordinating synchrophasor related activities funded by DOE/OE at NIST, PNNL, and ORNL. Specifically, it includes a focus on measurement needs, including IEEE 1588 timing, and other activities in the DOE/NIST interagency agreement. ORNL will continue to support PMU compliance with IEEE C37.118, participate in the development of IEEE 1588 precision timing protocols, as well as seeking additional opportunities for the institutions to collaborate. 

Ewing, Paul
Dynamic Reserve Policies for Market Management Systems

This project is conducting optimization-based analyses to examine: (a) new reserve policies for contingency-based reserves and ramping products, which may be needed to compensate for resource uncertainty; (b) the possible creation of dynamic zonal reserve policies; and (c) the creation of response-set reserve policies that specify a set of generators (or resources providing reserves) that will respond given a specific event—while taking into consideration network limitations.

Hedman, Kory
Dynamic System Identification (DSI) Toolbox Capabilities Update

 The objective of this work was to conduct a survey of existing tools that provide similar functionality to the DSI Toolbox. Pending a favorable review of that survey, then the PNNL team will pursue two primary activities for updating the DSI Toolbox.

Tuffner, Frank
Early FIDVR-Related Research

Industry awareness of FIDVR, though it was not always referred to by this name, dates to technical papers that have appeared in the literature since the 1990s.

Efficient Algorithm for Finding the Global Optimizer to AC Optimal Power Flow

This project is developing an efficient algorithm to find the global solution to the AC optimal power flow problem for large power systems.

Oh, HyungSeon
Electricity Market Design Principles

This project was designed to continue the coordinated program in the theory, design and testing of multidimensional markets for energy, reserves and other ancillary services, and the integration of active demand-side participation to form self-regulating markets.  New experiments were developed to determine the effects of transfers on native load LMP, voltage profiles and market power.

Mount, Tim
End-to-End Testing of Commercial Building End Uses for Regulation

This project is establishing an end-to-end connection between the end-uses and systems at LBNL’s FLEXLAB® and PJM’s regulation signals using OpenADR. In addition to working with PJM, partnerships with other ISOs and demand response aggregators are being explored, to determine the kinds of decision-support tools they need to participate in AS markets, especially regulation.

Callaway, Duncan
Evaluating the Effects of Managing Controllable Demand and Distributed Energy Resources Locally on System Performance and Costs

The primary objectives of this proposal were to (1) evaluate the effects of different types of storage on annual system costs and performance, (2) evaluate the effects of ramping on annual system costs and performance, (3) develop appropriate rate structures and incentives to promote distributed resource participation in coordinated aggregation schemes, (4) develop distributed resource models and control algorithms that accurately capture the aggregate demand-side flexibility as managed by an aggregator, (5) determine the system value of offering demand-side flexibility into a wholesale mar

Mount, Tim
Evaluating the system and financial adequacy of portfolios of renewables, storage, and controllable loads

The objective of this project was to use the new multi-period version of the Cornell SuperOPF to analyze the system and economic effects of having high penetrations of renewable energy on a network and to determine effective ways to mitigate the inherent variability of these sources. 

Mount, Tim
Evaluation of SCE Load Management System

Southern California Edison operates some of the load management programs in the United States. Many of the technologies relied upon by the programs date back to the late 1970’s. This project reviewed and made recommendations to modernize aspects of the program to better meet the needs of the restructured California electric power system.

Eto, Joe
Ex-Ante Modeling, Load Scheduling, and Differentiated Services Models for Populations of Flexible Loads

This project is modeling and evaluating the interfaces needed to allow an aggregator (or load serving entity) to harness the flexibility of a large population of appliances in a way that is reliable and economically sustainable.

Scaglione, Anna
FIDVR Load Modeling Tool

The purpose of this task is to generalize the load model development and calibration methodology developed for WECC to address the FIDVR phenomenon in planning studies.  Specifically, residential and commercial building load models must explicitly identify the load composition by electrical characteristics (i.e., static power, impedance, 1 and 3 phase motors, motor torque/speed characteristics, motor inertia, variable speed drive, and motor protection characteristics).

Etingov, Pavel
FIDVR Meetings and Workshops

In 2007, the utility industry approached DOE to discuss growing concerns they had regarding the potential impacts of FIDVR on grid reliability. DOE has co-sponsored three national workshops (in 2008, 2009, and 2015) with NERC to vet the topic with both the utility and air-conditioner manufacturing industries. These workshops are the precursor to the current DOE research initiative with industry on FIDVR.

Framework for Assessing the Impact of Coordinated Aggregation of DER on Bulk Power System Performance

The overall objective of this project is to develop a framework to assess the impact on bulk power system performance of distributed energy resources (DERs) when coordinated (via an aggregator) to provide ancillary services (e.g., frequency regulation). Of special interest is understanding the potential negative effects of failures in channels utilized by the aggregator to exchange information with the individual DERs and the hardware used to implement the DER local control.

Domínguez-García, Alejandro
Frequency event monitoring for all three interconnections

LBNL coordinated activities of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which was funded via a subcontract from PNNL, to implement a system that records and sends in real time automated notifications to NERC on frequency events occurring in all three U.S. interconnections. The frequency event monitoring system, called FNet, is based on low-cost frequency monitoring devices that are connected via wall plugs from a broad network of locations spread across each of the three interconnections.

Liu, Yilu
Frequency Monitoring and Analysis (FMA) Tool

The NERC-FMA real-time tool has the capability for automatically collect interconnections 1-second frequency phasor data together with 10-second and 1-minute interconnections SCADA ACE data to calculate, estimate statistics, display, and report the interconnections frequency behavior for allowing NERC Resources Subcommittee during their quarterly meetings and Operations Management to analyze, assess and track each interconnection frequency performance and define and recommend corrective measures if necessary.

Martinez, Carlos
Frequency Response Analysis Tool

This tool uses PMU measurements recorded during system disturbances to automate the calculation of power system frequency response. It has been developed to facilitate standardized analysis and reporting of frequency response following the requirements articulated in new NERC standards.

The tool has been released under an open source license, and is available here

Etingov, Pavel

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