Energy Systems Integration Newsletter: September 2020
In this edition, NREL methods affirm the stabilizing potential of renewables, new opportunities arise in grid modernization, a researcher uses math to develop distributed control for energy systems operation, and more.
Renewables Rescue Stability as the Grid Loses Spin
Across the world, renewable power is displacing traditional generation, but can renewables also replace the critical stability functions that go with it? Until now, the answer has been uncertain. Wind and solar are variable, and they are very different from the mechanical sources of grid backup and reliability. But when a First Solar power plant in Chile applied NREL methods to its 141-MW solar array in the high desert of Atacama, it became the first real system in the world to affirm renewables' stabilizing potential.
For NREL researchers, the results from Chile were exciting proof, but they are only the beginning. NREL is showing that any combination of renewables—solar, storage, wind, water, hydrogen—can provide at least as much stability as traditional resources by using controls for frequency response and accurate prediction of reserves. In fact, NREL is pushing the limits of this paradigm to 100% renewable systems so that in the near future industry can again run with NREL innovations for grid reliability.
Read the full story.
Ruling Brings Opportunities in Grid Modernization for NREL-Anterix Partnership
With power systems that are increasingly distributed—from solar PV, to energy storage devices, to complex customer-level load controls such as home energy management systems—customers need system reliability and resilience like never before. And the communications systems needed to connect such devices must be stable, fast, and effective.
These changes have prompted the exploration of private LTE networks dedicated to power systems communications. NREL and partner Anterix are leading research in this space and have validated essential communications functions over a 900-MHz private LTE network. The demonstration showed that LTE networks can provide high-speed response and relieve congestion among communications of distributed energy resources.
A new regulatory framework approved by the Federal Communications Commission in May will allow 900-MHz licenses, like Anterix, to obtain broadband licenses and includes operational and technical rules to minimize interference to narrowband operations.
NREL and Anterix recently held a virtual industry advisory board meeting on their project together. The team presented the latest findings on its direct-transfer-trip evaluation and outlined a test case that is close to completion.
Read more on the FCC ruling and the NREL-Anterix partnership.
Q&A with Andrey Bernstein: Between the Frontiers of Mathematics and the Future of Energy Systems
With expertise in applied math, Andrey Bernstein has helped break through the early challenges of real-time optimization and control for distributed energy systems, creating an algorithmic framework for the new domain of autonomous energy systems. Now Bernstein is revisiting math from his academic past to merge machine learning and distributed control for wide-scale energy systems operation.
Read our Q&A with Bernstein.
Development of 100% Renewable Microgrid in Borrego Springs
The renewable energy-based microgrid in Borrego Springs, California, has been a fruitful collaborative research project for NREL and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. Located 90 miles northeast of San Diego, Borrego Springs, California, is a beautiful, remote desert town and prone to high winds, flash floods, and wildfire threats, making grid resilience efforts particularly important. The Borrego Springs microgrid has the capacity to provide islanded power to the Borrego Springs community through a combination of distributed energy resources, including a 26-MW third-party solar PV system, 3 MW of customer-owned rooftop PV, and other assets. It is one of the largest microgrids in the United States, serving 2,500 residents and 300 commercial and industrial customers.
In a continuing project with San Diego Gas and Electric Company, NREL researchers have developed an advanced grid-forming inverter that enables synchronous transition to islanded power using 100% renewable energy when the microgrid disconnects from the grid to operate independently. This latest research uses digital real-time simulators and remote hardware-in-the-loop simulation at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility to test and develop a grid-forming inverter to control the microgrid both locally and from the San Diego Gas and Electric Company power station 80 miles away.
Hurricane Puts NREL Resilience Analysis Tool to the Test
Prior to Hurricane Michael making landfall in October 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense had tasked NREL with developing a means to identify hazards and threats to the electric grid, analyze risks to energy infrastructure, and identify and prioritize investments in making bases and installations more resilient.
NREL completed an initial assessment of vulnerabilities at Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City, two months before Hurricane Michael hit. Although recommended changes could not be completed before the hurricane, many of the suggested measures likely would have increased the base's resilience during the event.
See how the destruction at Tyndall Air Force Base helped NREL improve resilience analysis.
Upcoming Cybersecurity Events Include CyberForce Competition, USAID Webinar Series
To ensure the safety and health of participants, volunteers, and laboratory staff, this year's U.S. Department of Energy collegiate CyberForce Competition will run virtually as an individual competition on Nov. 14, 2020. This "warrior edition" will explore a wind farm-based scenario, in which student competitors will review, secure, monitor, and defend a wind farm company's infrastructure. With the ever-increasing amount of technology placed on the internet, security is a top priority for the United States' energy systems. NREL will serve as a virtual host for this year's event. Learn more about CyberForce 2020 and eligibility to participate—last chance to sign up is Friday, Oct. 2!
NREL and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) present a series of webinars that focus on digitalization and cybersecurity in the energy sector. Organized by USAID and the United States Energy Association, the webinars introduce concepts of digitalization and cybersecurity to energy sector professionals, including utility companies, ministries, regulatory bodies and legislators and feature leading U.S. and international digitalization and cybersecurity experts. The series is a continuation of a group of webinars funded with a cybersecurity-specific focus through the NREL-USAID Resilient Energy Platform.
Oct. 8, 2020 – The Importance of Supply Chain Security
Oct. 15, 2020 – Industrial Control System and SCADA: Risks and Solutions
Oct. 22, 2020 – The Relationship between Regulators and Power Utilities: Evaluating the Prudency of Cybersecurity Investments
Oct. 29, 2020 – Key Elements of Trusted Collaboration and Information Sharing
Nov. 4, 2020 – Communication Strategies Before, During, and After Cyber Attacks
USAID-NREL Partnership Offers Solutions to Accelerate Distributed Photovoltaic Market Growth in India
As part of a long-term effort to facilitate the distributed photovoltaic (DPV) market design in India, the USAID-NREL partnership released two reports that address deployment concerns for DPV technology. Distributed Solar Quality and Safety in India calls attention to common quality and safety issues at various stages of a rooftop PV system's life and offers solutions for addressing them, and An Overview of Behind-the-Meter Solar-Plus-Storage Program Design presents regulatory considerations for DPV-plus-storage program design for retail customers with considerations for India. Although the two reports assess different aspects of DPV deployment, they share the broader conclusion that there is tremendous opportunity for India's leaders to create supportive standards and regulatory frameworks to enable DPV deployment at scale and meet India's ambitious renewable energy integration targets.
Learn more about this analysis and how USAID and NREL are supporting DPV deployment in India in the full-length news article.
Report Demonstrates Potential Benefits of Artificial Intelligence for Utilities
With artificial intelligence (AI) gaining traction in the electric power industry, utilities are finding that AI has potential across the utility value chain. The latest entry in the Department of Energy Voices of Experience series will help utilities understand how AI could improve their operations, determine where the challenges are, and discover what other utilities are learning through their own experience.
New NREL Video Highlights Future Vision
A new video from NREL illustrates the lab's vision for the future. From improving grid resilience through our autonomous energy grid research to NREL's partnership with Southern California Gas Company to convert excess renewable energy into pipeline quality methane, the video highlights how NREL is finding solutions to today's and tomorrow's energy challenges.
Associate Laboratory Director Juan Torres Talks Diversity, Hispanic Representation in STEM
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, NREL Associate Laboratory Director of Energy Systems Integration Juan Torres spoke with Modern Wellness Guide about diversity and the importance of Hispanic involvement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Check out the conversation with Torres on how Hispanic people can play a huge part in a STEM-focused future.
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