ISGT NA 2023: Moving to a Self-Driving Grid
Panel Sessions

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

2:15PM – 3:30PM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Addressing Reliability and Resilience of 100% Renewable Grid: Challenges, Recent Research, and Standards

Session Chairs:  Tu Nguyen, Sandia National Laboratories,  Reinaldo Tonkoski, University of Maine

  • 23ISGT0277: Addressing black-swan events with sharing energy storage under the great energy transition, H. NGUYEN, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  • 23ISGT0278: Island power systems with high levels of inverter-based resources: Stability and reliability challenges, J. TAN, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0279: Equitable resilience planning, J. Twitchell, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

2:15PM – 3:30PM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Coordinating Applications and Multiple Objectives within Advanced Distribution Operations Platforms

Session Chairs:  Andy Reiman, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); James Ogle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Distribution operations must increasingly achieve a range of competing objectives including economic viability, reliability, resilience, decarbonization, and equity. Meanwhile, behind-the-meter generation and storage and other grid-edge devices are introducing objectives across ownership boundaries that cannot be resolved by a single centralized (or distributed) controller or optimization program. Distribution operations platforms (e.g., ADMS and DERMS) integrate data from multiple sources while offering the flexibility of modular development and deployment of functional applications. Functional requirements for different modules span domains and solutions operate on multiple timescales with a range of computational needs. Coordination is needed at the system level to ensure that modular, distributed, and grid-edge applications with competing objectives do not fight over equipment setpoints or interfere with system-level operating requirements. This panel will discuss the coordination, control, and integration in a multiple-objective environment that spans distribution operations to the grid edge. Panelists will describe utility perspectives, practical solutions, and applied R&D.

  • 23ISGT0304: Opportunities and Challenges for Achieving Multiple Operational Objectives, FAZZARI, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
  • 23ISGT0305: Real-Time DER Control for Low Voltage System Integration with Multiple Objectives, HANSEN , South Dakota State University
  • 23ISGT0306: Practical Applications for Advanced Distribution Operations, DUBEY, Washington State University
  • 23ISGT0311: A Framework for Coordinating Objectives of Advanced Distribution Operations Applications, REIMAN, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

2:15PM – 3:30PM
(INDEPENDENCE H&I)

Standardization of blockchain technology as an enabling tool to accelerate grid modernization

Session Chairs:  Umit Cali, “Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); David Sebastian Cardenas, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  • 23ISGT0295, TBD, M. MYLREA, National Resilience Inc.
  • 23ISGT0296, Use of smart contracts to support Transactive Market applications, D. SEBASTIAN CARDENAS, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0297, Fault Tolerance grid applications using blockchain, F. BERETA DOS REIS, PNNL
  • 23ISGT0298, TBD, U. CALI, “Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

3:45PM – 5:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Pathways Towards an Equitable Grid in a Just Transition: Where Are We Now?

Session Chairs:  Miguel Heleno, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Bethel Tarekegne, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  • 23ISGT0288, Federal vision of Energy Justice and the J40 initiative, T. REAMES, DOE
  • 23ISGT0289, Incorporating Equity Considerations into Grid Planning Processes, J. PALADINO, DOE
  • 23ISGT0290, Equity and energy justice at the State-level: experiences and challenges,  K. VERCLAS, NASEO
  • 23ISGT0291, How are equity and justice targets affecting energy regulation?, D. SASS BYRNETT, NARUC
  • 23ISGT0294, Research perspectives on equitable power systems, Dr. Imre Gyuk, DOE

3:45PM – 5:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Local Markets in the Emerging Self Driving Grid

Session Chair:   Farrokh Rahimi, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)

The proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is perceived by some as a challenge for reliable grid operation, and by others as a win-win opportunity for improved grid reliability and resilience, as well as beneficial outcomes for prosumers and passive consumers. A combination of regulator provisions, grid architectural changes, and market design frameworks can swing the pendulum in one direction or the other.

This panel session will address these factors, the current possibilities ad impediments, and the roadmap that could lead to a win-win outcome for all stakeholders. The panel will particularly address the design of local transactive markets for grid-edge participation, along with illustrative examples. Interactions with bulk power markets at the seams will also be addressed as the electricity grid moves towards increased levels of automation.  

The following topics will be covered:

  • The changing electricity landscape and impacts of proliferation of DERs
  • Current regulatory landscape impeding or enhancing DER utilization
  • Grid architectural principles for a high DER grid
  • Local transactive markets for DERs
  • Illustrative Use Case: Transactive Local market for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS)

Presentations:

  • 23ISGT0244, The changing electricity landscape and impacts of proliferation of DERs, F. ALBUYEH, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)
  • 23ISGT0245, Grid architectural principles for a high DER grid, R. MELTON, PNNL
  • 23ISGT0246, Local transactive markets for DERs, L. KRISTOV, Electric system policy, structure, market design
  • 23ISGT0247, Transactive Local market for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS), M. SHAHIDEHPOUR, IIT

3:45PM – 5:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE H&I)

Protection Systems on a Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)-Rich Electricity Network – The Challenges they are Facing and A Roadmap for the Future

Session Chairs:  Bhaskar Mitra, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seemita Pal, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

The National Grid is facing a crucial task for leading the effort of net-zero by 2030. To meet the daunting target, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel powered plants for generation, transportation must be considerably reduced. In the field of electricity generation, this goal can be achieved through the integration of large-scale and small-scale renewable energy resources. The Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) would contribute heavily in the decarbonization efforts.
 
The high penetration of DER rich resources poses certain challenges to the power distribution network. Protection systems were designed keeping in mind the uni-directional flow of power from generation to load (consumer). DERs create the task of managing generation resources in-situ with the loads that can hamper protection, operation, and other challenges. Currently, utilities do not have control over customer installed DERs, thus challenges associated with relay co-ordination and settings pose a paramount risk to grid reliability. The current limiting control schemes of inverter-based resources (IBRs) prevent injection of unregulated fault current into the grid. For relays using time current curve (TCC) to detect faults fails to detect such faults. If the faults are not detected in a timely manner they can cause detrimental damage, fire resulting in large-scale grid shut down. Anti-islanding protection schemes are designed to detect disturbances in the grid and shut down DER resources within seconds to prevent feeding power back to the grid. However, with DERs participating in voltage control, frequency regulation etc., it hampers the inverter protection settings. This can be a threat to the safety of the crew trying to restore outages.
 
Some of the challenges can be mitigated through the integration of high-speed communication networks, high powered computational platforms etc. Energy Management Systems (EMS) use smart measuring and sensing performs real-time operations that co-ordinate the operating state of the grid, preventing it from blackouts, device failures and other challenges. These enhanced capabilities will effectively improve the observability of the grid. However, this creates several vulnerabilities related to cybersecurity. For the development of a smart and connected grid it is imperative to develop and enhance cybersecurity protection to make the grid reliable and safe.
 
There is a pressing need for development of protection schemes that ensure fast and reliable operations. Utilizing advanced signal processing techniques, distributed sensing and other existing or emerging capabilities, the utilities would need to improve the protection systems in a cost-affordable manner to enable effective operation of the DERs.

  • 23ISGT0273, TBD, T. MCDERMOTT, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0274, TBD, D. ISHCHENKO, Eaton
  • 23ISGT0275, TBD, B. COCKERHAM, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

 

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

10:30AM – 11:45AM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future

Session Chair:   Marianna Vaiman, V&R Energy

 

  • 23ISGT0301: Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future, A. PAASO, LUMA Energy
  • 23ISGT0302: Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future, D. NOVOSEL, Quanta Technology
  • 23ISGT0303: Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future, M PESIN, U.S. Department of Energy
  • 23ISGT0310: Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future, D. ORTIZ, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • 23ISGT0308: Innovative Technologies for Building Resilient Grid of the Future, M. PARVANIA, The University of Utah

10:30AM – 11:45AM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Coordination Across the Seams for DER Integration

Session Chair:   Farrokh Rahimi, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)

With increasing levels of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and their ability to provide grid services, coordination among different entities including prosumers, microgrid operators, aggregators, load serving entities, distribution grid operators, and bulk power market operators is becoming exceedingly important for grid reliability, resilience, and economic benefits to the stakeholders. This panel session will address the following topics in the context of coordination across the seams among these entities:

  • Impacts of proliferation of DERs on grid planning and operations
  • DER participation in bulk power markets, and implications on the coordination requirements across Transmission and Distribution Interface
  • Moving towards Dynamic Operating Envelopes from static Hosting Capacity limits
  • Illustrative Use Case: A platform for coordinated operation among Aggregators, DSOs, and RTO

Presentations:

  • 23ISGT0248, Impacts of proliferation of DERs on grid planning and operations, C. LOUTAN, CAISO
  • 23ISGT0249, DER Participation in Bulk Power Markets, and implications on Transmission and Distribution seams, L. KRISTOV, Electric system policy, structure, market design
  • 23ISGT0250, Moving towards Dynamic Operating Envelopes from Static Hosting Capacity limits, A. IPAKCHI, OATI
  • 23ISGT0251, A Platform for Coordinated Operation among Aggregators, DSOs, and RTO, M. SHAHIDEHPOUR, IIT
  • 23ISGT0300, DER Integration Coordination: Role of Retail Markets and Energy IoT, L. Dobrianski, General Microgrids, Inc.

10:30AM – 11:45AM
(INDEPENDENCE H&I)

Crowdsourcing a Grid-Enhancing Technologies Application Guide

Session Chair: Ted Bloch-Rubin, Smart Wires Inc.
 
Grid Enhancing Technologies are well-established, commercialized offerings, but few grid operators learn to use them in standard training. In recent years, the need is clear for aggregation of industry best practices and establishment of a comprehensive, third-party GETs Application Guide, to inform both technical and regulatory audiences. This panel for will discuss topic areas, level of detail, audience-specific needs, and effective stakeholder education – an important step in the development of such a Guide, as it allows for open dialogue and industry collaboration in a public setting.
 
A mix of panelists from system operators, utilities, renewable energy developers, load-serving entities, and government agencies will provide insight on a range of use cases. Spanning both planning and operations time horizons, experts will discuss reliability-driven thermal overloads, bridge projects, outage management for economic and reliability impact, servicing load growth, and mitigating challenges of series compensation.

  • 23ISGT0236, N/A,  H. PEARSON, LineVision
  • 23ISGT0237, N/A, C. RODRIGUEZ, Invenergy
  • 23ISGT0238, N/A, D. QUIER, PPL
  • 23ISGT0239, N/A, E. COOK, Duquesne Light Company

2:05PM – 3:15PM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Multi-objective Grid Planning Framework for Resilience, Equity, and Decarbonization

Session Chair: Brian Pierre, Sandia National Labs

  • 23ISGT0283, Multi-objective Grid Planning Framework, J. PALADINO, DOE,
  • 23ISGT0284, Multi-objective Grid Planning Analysis, B. PIERRE, Sandia National Labs
  • 23ISGT0285, Advancing Energy Equity Considerations in Distribution System Planning,  A. BHARATI, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0286, Electric Grid Resilience Planning, C. NEWLUN, Sandia National Laboratories

2:05PM – 3:15PM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Methods and Tools of Resilience Analysis and Valuation for Future Distribution Grid Operation with Demand-side Flexibility

Session Chair: Sarmad Hanif, PNNL

A panel on state-of-the-art methods and tools for distribution grid resilience. The seminar will help collect ideas for analyzing the resilience of distribution systems, with conventional and contemporary technical methods, and their valuation strategies. For example, utilizing demand-side flexibility to provide grid services for improving resilience is a contemporary method, whereas hardening and vegetation management is a conventional method. The panel will disseminate interesting results from the resilience research and will cover either tools and methods to analyze grid resilience or perform its valuation.

  • 23ISGT0252, Grid Resilience in Transactive Systems, C. IRWIN, Department of Energy
  • 23ISGT0253, Advanced Applied Research Topics on Resilience and Reliability with Small Utilities, E. STEWART, NRECA
  • 23ISGT0254, Summary from IEEE Distribution Grid Resilience Working Group Part 1, S. PANDEY, Commonweath Edison
  • 23ISGT0255, Summary from IEEE Distribution Grid Resilience Working Group Part 2, G. HUFFMAN, Burns and McDonnell
  • 23ISGT0256, Predicting Distribution Grid Resilience Using Outage Algorithms, S. POUDEL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0257, Resilience-Oriented Cellular Grid Formation and Optimization to Bolster Community Resilience, F. DING, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

2:05PM – 3:15PM
(INDEPENDENCE H&I)

Smart Cities and Smart Utilities – Interactions and Overlaps

Session Chair: Farrokh Albuyeh, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)

  • 23ISGT0269, Emerging Smart Grid and Smart Cities Touch Points, F. RAHIMI, Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI)
  • 23ISGT0270, Electric Transportation as Smart Utility Venture, M. SHAHIDEHPOUR, IIT
  • 23ISGT0271, Smart Grid and Smart City Field Experience in Puerto Rico, A. PASSO, LUMA Energy
  • 23ISGT0272, Smart Cities Integration of Water and Electricity, M. PARVANIA, The University of Utah

4:50PM – 6:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Modeling, Control, and Operation of Energy Storage Systems to Enable Grid De-carbonization

Session Chairs:  Ujjwol Tamrakar, Sandia National Labs, Reinaldo Tonkoski, University of Maine

  • 23ISGT0280, IEEE Std 1547.9-2022: A New Standard to Help Streamline Energy Storage Interconnection with Distribution, M. ROPP, SNL
  • 23ISGT0281, Grid Services from Behind-the-Meter DERs, B. BHATTARAI, Solar Energy Technology Office, DOE
  • 23ISGT0282, Aggregating Residential Battery Storage for Grid Services & Decarbonization, J. GROOTERS, Generac Grid Services
  • 23ISGT0287, Inverter Modeling Toolbox for Power System Studies, N. NINAD, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) 

4:50PM – 6:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Integrated Transmission and Distribution Real-Time Analysis for Monitoring and Control

Session Chairs:  Weston Dengler, Smart Electric Power Alliance, Robert Broadwater, Virginia Tech

The US electric grid is facing operational, stability, and security challenges. Transmission system operators need visibility into distribution system renewable generation. Distribution system generation needs to support transmission system voltage. The grid is experiencing an expansion in measurement systems. How to take full advantage of this expansion and defend against attacks, both cyber and physical, poses additional challenges. This panel introduces a system designed to meet these challenges. At the center of the system is an Integrated System Model (ISM) that spans from transmission to secondary distribution. The ISM is employed in real-time abnormality detection, voltage stability forecasting, and hierarchical, multi-mode, coordinated control. The system architecture along with selected analysis modules are discussed. Testing results are presented for: 1 – attacks on utility infrastructure; 2 – energy savings from optimal control; 3 – distribution system control response during low voltage transmission system events; 4 – cyber-attacks on PV inverters, where physical inverters are used in hardware-in-the-simulation loop experiments.

Panelists will share findings concerning the ability of the ISM-centric approach to detect abnormalities and provide economic benefits. The presentation will consider how coordinated control helps prevent inverter oscillations and will highlight EDD’s coordination with the University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC), demonstrating how the model has been employed in real-time abnormality detection at the IEC’s hardware-in-the-loop lab. Panelists will also speak about a novel approach to minute-by-minute solar forecasting, and how it improves control of feeders with PV generation. Finally, panelists will discuss the coordination of the many sources of data needed to support the ISM analysis and introduce upcoming field tests of the ISM-centric system at Pepco. 

  • 23ISGT0233, Integrated Transmission and Distribution Real-Time Analysis for Monitoring and Control, T. Broadwater, Virginia Tech
  • 23ISGT0276, Integrated Transmission and Distribution Real-Time Analysis for Monitoring and Control, A. Parchure, Virginia Tech
  • 23ISGT0235, Integrated Transmission and Distribution Real-Time Analysis for Monitoring and Control, T. Kutchen, Pepco Holdings 

4:50PM – 6:00PM
(INDEPENDENCE H&I)

Hierarchical Control of Behind-the-Meter Distributed Energy Resources: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

Session Chairs:  Shakil Hossan, Eaton Corporation; Sid Suryanarayanan, Eaton Research Labs, Eaton

With the rapidly increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the residential electricity sector, it is important for utilities to identify or manage those behind-the-meter (BTM) DERs synergistically. These DERs may not properly contribute to the benefits of the premise or to the grid if they are not managed optimally; instead, their suboptimal operation may jeopardize grid operations or deprive the grid and the premise from receiving the maximum possible benefits. Besides, there are controllable loads in the premise that can be coordinated with DER operations for the abovementioned purposes. With the advent of grid edge hardware and communication protocols, optimal frameworks for autonomous operation of assets and information exchange between the premise and the utility can provide grid services of value. 

In this panel, we assemble experts from the industry, national lab, and research institutes to discuss the state-of-the-art in progress, challenges, and opportunities in grid edge technologies, hierarchical control, and communication protocols germane to BTM DERs providing grid services through the lens of an active project.  

  • 23ISGT0240, A DOE perspective on high penetration Distributed Energy Resource scenarios, D. WALTER, Department of Energy,
  • 23ISGT0241, Operating locally, connecting flexibly: Challenges and benefits of meter-based edge DER control, R. ALEXANDER, Eaton Corporation,
  • 23ISGT0242, Control algorithms for DERs at the grid-edge, A. NAGARAJAN, National Renewable Energy Lab
  • 23ISGT0243, Servers and protocols for implementing hierarchical controllers at the grid-edge, J. ANANDAN, Electric Power Research Institute 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

11:00AM – 12:15PM
(INDEPENDENCE EAST)

Integrating Security Concepts in an Evolving Electricity Ecosystem (panel session)

Session Chairs:  Larry Collier, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC);  Ryan Quint, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

IEEE and NERC have jointly sponsored a technical report that will be published late 2022 focusing on the concept of security integration – integrating cyber and physical security concepts into conventional grid planning, design, operations, and restoration activities. This panel will explore the concept laid out in the IEEE-NERC technical report and will also include industry experts in areas related to security integration. Topics that will be covered include:

  • Planning Integration: How the bulk power system can be planned and built in a way that increases it cyber-resilience and minimizes the number of critical elements. This includes novel ways in which grid planners can study the possible reliability impacts of a cyber compromise in the OT space.
  • Design Integration: How future engineering designs can better integrate cybersecurity concepts, how OT and IT security professionals can work more closely to ensure a strong cyber posture during the design phase of new projects.
  • Operations Integration: How grid operators and operations engineers can ensure a strong cyber posture to the possibility of a cyber attack. This includes leveraging the various cybersecurity frameworks and standards in effect and ensuring that engineering operating procedures and practices are fully integrating the concepts of security as well.
  • Emerging Technologies: How emerging technologies may affect the overall electricity sector’s security posture, particularly with the advent of cloud technology, grid edge devices, the Internet of Things, distributed energy resources, DER aggregators, electric vehicles, and more.
    This panel will present some novel work done in these areas as well as lay out strong industry recommendations for future work as well as ways in which utilities can enhance their security integration internally.

Presentations:

  • 23ISGT0258, Emerging technology with a focus on smart grid technologies and distributed energy resources, W. EDWARDS, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
  • 23ISGT0259, Applying DOE’s CyOTE Program to Power System Operations, S. CHANOSKI, Idaho National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0260, Integrating cybersecurity best practices into engineering activities, D. GOODLETT, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
  • 23ISGT0268, From cyber risk to planning study – building a cyber-informed planning analysis, S. RIZVI, NPCC

11:00AM – 12:15PM
(INDEPENDENCE F&G)

Energy Storage Systems Enabling the Self-Driving Grid

Session Chair:   Arnulfo de Castro, SAS Institute

Renewables have become a major component of the utility grid. With solar and wind becoming cost competitive, it is even more important to address the storage issues that will allow these technologies to be more reliable participants in the supply of electricity. This panel presents the challenges, programs and technologies involved in making energy storage systems effective contributors to the self-driving grid.  It also provides a glimpse of the actual research, development and implementation activities in this area.  

  • 23ISGT0262, Evolving Transmission Planning Paradigms to Support Cost Effective Net Zero Futures, H. OTHMAN, Quanta Technology, LLC
  • 23ISGT0263, Challenges of Accelerating Adoption of New Battery Technologies to Support the Grid of the Future, E. DE CASTRO, Enerpoly AB
  • 23ISGT0264, Developing a Distributed Grid Architecture to Enable Adoption of Energy Storage, Electric Vehicles, and Dynamic Changes in Customer Demand, J. HANDLEY, Duke Energy
  • 23ISGT0265, Energy Storage Analytics and Demonstration Projects, D. WU, PNNL
  • 23ISGT0266, Control and Coordination of Energy Storage with Hydro Power Plants, B. A. BHATTI, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • 23ISGT0314, Energy Storage Initiatives at ComEd, R. SHARMA, ComEd.