Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Renewable energy sources are paving their way into the modern mixed energy landscape, transforming conventional centralized bulk power systems with large-scale power generation to tomorrow's decentralized systems with small-scale distributed generation (DG) units near consumers. Along with environmental benefits of renewables, uncertainties, bidirectional power flow and DG interfacing inverters make the planning, operation and control of future distribution grids very challenging. DG inverters will fundamentally change power systems dynamics while interacting with conventional power generation, and their characteristics remain largely unknown from the system stability and resiliency point of view, which demands new approaches to model, simulate, design and evaluate these DG inverters, the control systems and their influence on the overall grid. In this proposed research program, a novel multi-dimensional framework will be developed for the first time through power electronic devices, along with control, optimization and machine learning techniques. The long-term goal is to develop next generation advanced technologies, devices and tools to facilitate renewable energy integration and distribution grid modernization for the efficient, resilient, and reliable delivery of electricity. This research program includes four interrelated themes, tightly linked together by DG interfacing inverters: 1) Inverter-based sources: advanced control techniques for grid-forming inverters, and their influence on power systems stability; 2) Microgrid formation in distribution networks: optimal planning and service restoration; 3) Soft open points (an emerging power electronic device) in distribution networks: novel control schemes and service restoration; and 4) Conservation voltage reduction in renewable-rich distribution networks: multi-energy systems involving hydrogen, and the volt-var control with DG inverters and legacy voltage control devices. Innovative solutions through this research will address some of the most challenging issues of distribution grid modernization and realize an autonomous and self-healing system with rapid service restoration and improved efficiency, stability, and resiliency. The research will greatly benefit Canadian utilities and significantly advance distribution grid modernization.