Interconnection and Control Technology
NREL researchers work with interconnection and control technologies to remove barriers to distributed energy resources and strengthen the electric power system.
If distributed resources are to achieve their full potential, they must be interconnected with the electric power system. However, interconnection technologies are often site-, technology-, and utility-specific. As a result, interconnection is frequently expensive and time-consuming.
Interconnection and control technology activities at NREL are focused on developing a modular interconnection technology that can provide reasonably priced interconnection for all distributed generation sources while increasing functionality for energy management and grid support. Work in this area also includes the development of advanced control and monitoring technologies and operational concepts to enhance the integration of distributed energy resources with electric power systems.
Recent Publications
The following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Acrobat Reader.
Greenberg, S.; Cooley, C. "Development, Demonstration, and Field Testing of Enterprise-Wide Distributed Generation Energy Management System: Final Report" (PDF 3.1 MB). NREL/SR-560-36951. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2005.
Ye, Z.; Walling, R.; Garces, L.; Zhou, R.; Li, L.; Wang, T. "Study and Development of Anti-Islanding Control for Grid-Connected Inverters" (PDF 2.1 MB). NREL/SR-560-36243. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2004.
Johnson, M. "Current Solutions: Recent Experience in Interconnecting Distributed Energy Resources" (PDF 1.1 MB). NREL/SR-560-34864. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. September 2003.
Miller, N.; Ye, Z. "Report on Distributed Generation Penetration Study" (PDF 3.7 MB). NREL/SR-560-34715. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. August 2003.
