This document discusses using hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing to evaluate site-specific microgrid controllers. It describes using NREL's power and controller HIL platform to test microgrid controllers for two example projects - the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and Borrego Springs community microgrid - by interfacing the controllers with simulated and actual distributed energy resources. The goal is to determine if the controllers can manage the microgrids' assets to meet interconnection requirements like IEEE 1547.

1. Site-specific controller
evaluation using HIL
Annabelle Pratt
EPRI/Sandia Symposium on Secure and Resilient Microgrids
August 30, 2016

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Idaho
NREL
Lawrence Berkeley
Lawrence Livermore
Los Alamos
Sandia
Pacific Northwest
Argonne BrookhavenNETL
Oak Ridge
 NNSA (Defense Program)
 Office of Science
 Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy
 Office of Nuclear Energy
 Office of Fossil Energy
NREL is Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
http://energy.gov/maps/doe-national-laboratories

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Only national laboratory
Dedicated to Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency R&D
• Research ranges from
Fundamental Science to
Technology Solutions
• Collaboration with Industry and
University partners is a hallmark
Main Campus in Golden, CO
Distributed Energy Research and Test Facility (DERTF) at the National
Wind Technology Center (NWTC) in Boulder, CO
ESIF

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ESIF Laboratories
Smart buildings &
controllable loads
Power Systems Integration
Grid Simulators - Microgrids
Energy Systems
Integration
Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers
Outdoor Test Areas
EVs, Power Transformers
Rooftop PV Energy Storage -
Residential, Community
& Grid Battery Storage,
Flywheels & Thermal
HPC & Data Center
Advanced
Distribution
Management
Systems

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• The microgrid must comply with the distribution system
operator’s interconnection requirements
o Most utilities in the U.S. refer to IEEE 1547
Microgrid control system objectives
Source: siemens.com

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• The role of the microgrid control system is to manage
the microgrid assets so as to meet the
interconnection requirements
Microgrid control system objectives, cont’d
Source: siemens.com
• The IEEE 2030.7 draft
standard “provides the
specification of
microgrid control
system in terms of the
functional requirements
for interconnection”

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• Single product compliance
o Does it meet IEEE 2030.7 core level functions?
o Does it meet additional customer requirements?
• Product comparison
o How do these controllers compare?
Requires testing in the context of a microgrid system
• Site-specific compliance
o Is it capable of managing this microgrid’s assets in
order to meet these interconnection requirements?
Objectives of microgrid controller evaluation

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Pure simulation
Abstract or real-
time
Need to
integrate MGC
Microgrid Controller Test Options
CHIL
Interface real
controller
Real-time
simulationMGC
DER G
EPS
MGC
DER G
EPS
MGC
DER G
EPS
MGC
DER G
CHIL = Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop; PHIL = Power Hardware-in-the-Loop
MGC = Microgrid controller; DER = Distributed Energy Resource; G = Generator; EPS = Electric Power System
CHIL & PHIL
Interface real
controller and
assets
Power interface,
more complex
Power
Real controller
and assets
Simple EPS
model

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• Model of site EPS
o transient simulation*
o possible model reduction
• Actual or representative DER
o reduce modeling inaccuracies
o proprietary controls
• Flexible scenarios
o Worst case testing
o No customer impact
CHIL & PHIL for site-specific evaluation
MGC
DER G
EPS
GDAC GGS GTxfr
YVsec
HTxfrHCTHADC
ZSub Zgs
+
+
+
+
VSub
IInv
VESS VGS VPri VSec
IPri +-IESS
kV
kI
-1
Virtual Feeder Interface Hardware
GComp
HComp
* RTDS, Opal-RT, Speedgoat

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CHIL/PHIL Test Example 1
• PHIL & CHIL evaluation of microgrid controller for
Buffalo Niagra Medical Campus (BNMC) site
o Project lead: EPRI
• DOE FOA 997 functional requirements
• CHIL: Spirae Wave controller
• PHIL: ESS inverter (representative)

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NREL Test Setup for BNMC

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CHIL/PHIL Test Example 2
• PHIL & CHIL evaluation of microgrid controller for Borrego
Springs community microgrid site
• California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded $5M to SDG&E to
connect Borrego Springs microgrid to a 26 MW PV plant
o enables the entire community to operate solely on renewable energy
Source: SDG&E

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Borrego Springs controller evaluation
• CHIL: Spirae Wave controller &
Generator controller
• PHIL: ESS inverter (representative)
& SMA PV inverter (actual)
• Functional requirements similar to
FOA 997
• PV plant load-following mode

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• Site-specific controller evaluation:
• Can the controller manage this microgrid’s assets in order
to meet these interconnection requirements?
• NREL’s Power and Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL
& CHIL) test platform allows multiple scenario testing
with actual or representative power hardware
Summary

15. Thank You!!
Annabelle Pratt, Ph.D.
Principal Engineer
Power Systems Engineering Center
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
annabelle.pratt@nrel.gov

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Borrego Springs controller evaluation
• Remote HIL:
o Connect to SDG&E ITF
o Avoids resource duplication

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DOE 997: Functional Requirements
1. Disconnection
o disconnect time based on voltage & frequency
2. Resynchronization and Reconnection
o frequency, voltage and phase angle difference
3. Steady-State Frequency Range, Voltage Range, and
Power Quality
4. Protection
o external & internal faults; unintentional islanding
5. Dispatch
o survivability, economic and environmental performance
6. Enhanced Resilience
o meet community-defined resilience objectives