A Real-time Simulation Testbed for Hierarchical Control of a Renewable Energy-based Microgrid

The continued rise of renewable energy sources (RES) and distributed generation (DG) necessitate and support the invention of smart grid technologies, among which communication and remote control are keystone features. Multi-level control strategies improve grid stability and provide the necessary flexibility to address changing demand, contingency, and DG variability. To test these strategies while avoiding damage to existing infrastructure or lab equipment, simulation is employed to facilitate large-scale control and protection applications. In this work, a multi-level control strategy is tested on a moderately large simulated network, using both physical and software-based controllers, in both local- and remote-control configurations. Additionally, an adaptation is made to typical control strategy to accommodate energy sharing amongst distributed resources.