DETAILS OF RESEARCH PROJECT TO BE UNDERTAKEN FOR DTECH

TITLE OF RESEARCH Developing and Analyzing the Impacts of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and New Control Techniques on Distribution Networks DESCRIPTION The reality of the future power grid incorporating various form of distributed energy resources (DER) and renewable energy source (RES) at the distribution level cannot be ignored any more. One of the technical frameworks of aggregating and controlling DER and RES is through virtual power plant (VPP). This project will analyze the impacts of VPP and the new control techniques on the stability of the distribution network. MOTIVATION Todays electrical power system is changing gradually from the centralized to decentralized one as a result of increasing penetration of distributed generations (DG). Also, there has been an increase in research effort globally to develop innovations towards attaining an affordable energy supply with a lower CO2 emission. One of such innovations is the Virtual Power Plant (VPP), which is defined as an overall controlled aggregation of distributed energy resources (DER) at different places in distribution networks of different operator network. The integration of DGs into the distribution networks makes the structure of the electrical utility grid o be more complex. The traditional SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is inadequate to handle, let alone optimize all possible combinations of power production and consumption. It is therefore expedient to efficiently utilize modern ICT technologies in the operation and control of the electric power system. The Multi Agent System (MAS) appears to be a very useful technique for the operation and control of a power system. With the anticipated growth in DG there is need to acquire a more comprehensive knowledge of their impact on short circuit fault levels, system small disturbance and transient stability and voltage stability. Problem Identification The introduction of new concepts like Distributed Generation (DG), Microgrids, Market Participation (MP), Renewable Energy Resources (RES), Greenhouse Emissions (GE) reduction and Power Quality (PQ) into the power system has made it more complex. Also the interconnection of DG in various forms to the distribution network through power electronic converters has raised concerns about safe operation and protection of the equipments. In view of these, the stability and control of the future electrical grid become a challenge. Approach/Methods i. ii. Theoretical analysis of virtual power plant controls Modelling and simulation of the components of the VPP using DigSilent and other available software packages

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Integration of the VPP to the grid and Stability analysis (Small signal and transient stabilities)

Research Aims & Objectives The objectives of this research work shall include; To design a suitable framework that can be used to help implement the concept of a virtual power plant to control and aggregate DER and RES To apply MAS technology to improve the operation of VPP system To investigate both small signal and transient stability of the VPP To connect the VPP to the grid for voltage and reactive power regulattion To analyze the overall impact of the VPP on the grid

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