Development and Analysis of a Progressively Smarter Distribution System
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Awardee:
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Advanced Power and Energy Program University of California, Irvine |
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| Project Partners: | Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) | ||
| Award Date: | March 11, 2010 | ||
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CSI RD&D Funding:
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$300,000 | ||
| Match Funding: | $100,000 | ||
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Start Date:
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Jan 2011 | ||
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End Date:
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Jan 2013 | ||
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Project Manager:
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Dr. Scott Samuelsen | ||
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949-824-7301 | ||
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gss @ uci.edu | ||
| Grant Manager: | Jonathan Wanjiru | ||
| 509-891-3192 | |||
| jonathan.wanjiru @ itron.com | |||
Summary
This project is a collaboration between the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at the University of California-Irvine (UCI) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and it is designed to achieve the following two goals: (1) To quantify the limitations of photovoltaic (PV) integration on distribution circuits; and (2) to develop and evaluate progressively smarter distribution systems in order to reliably accommodate a high percentage of PV penetration.
The project utilizes data from existing circuits in combination with modeling and simulation to provide insights into the modeling methodologies needed to evaluate the impacts of a high percentage of PV deployment on distribution circuits. The project will also provide insights on the limitations of PV penetration; control strategies and communication advances to achieve high levels of PV penetration; and regulatory and technology barriers. The project evaluates the control and integration of existing major components on both the primary and secondary distribution systems, and it identifies PV integration limitations of standard operating procedures. Additionally, it develops a progressively smarter distribution strategy such that distribution circuit limitations do not hinder the California Solar Initiative goal of 3,000 MW of new electricity generation from solar by 2016.
The project includes the following five tasks: (1) Develop, tune, and verify distribution circuit models to monitored field data; (2) quantify PV integration limits for typical distribution circuits; (3) evaluate the feasibility to utilize advanced PV inverters to alleviate PV integration limitations; (4) develop and evaluate integrated control strategies to support the increased penetration of PV in the distribution system; and (5) evaluate the practical feasibility of the relevant standards, hardware, and communications needed to enable progressively smarter distribution systems.
PG&E is providing data and insight into standard utility methods, designs, and practices in order to ensure that the models are based on accurate assumptions and that the proposed control methods and communications strategies are implementable and practical within the existing electric utility industry.
The outcomes of this work will provide insights into PV integration limits and strategies to enable increased penetration of PV into the electricity grid. Results from the evaluated models will inform advanced standards (IEEE 1547 and UL 1741).
Status
| Time Period | Activity |
| Jan 2011 | Project started |
Project Documents/Website Links
- Project presentation PDF (1.16 MB)
