Executive Summary for PSERC Final Report for Project T-52G. Uploaded June 30, 2014.

Setting-less protection based on dynamic state estimation is an emerging technology that effectively uses advances in numerical relays to improve protection. This protection approach uses simplified settings, just the operating limits of devices. For this reason it was named “ setting-less.” A more descriptive name is coordination-less protection. The dynamic state estimation approach requires that complex analytics be performed on data acquired by the data acquisition system of a relay. In prior research, numerical experiments based on the setting-less protection approach were performed on a number of protection problems, specifically, transmission line protection, capacitor bank protection, transformer protection, reactor protection, induction motor protection and distribution line protection. The research demonstrated that the dynamic state estimation approach provides a secure and dependable protection scheme, and does not require coordination with other devices or protection schemes while, at the same time, addresses many protection gaps. This report summarizes the methodological refinements and the results of further laboratory testing of their application.

Final Project Report for PSERC Project T-52G; Uploaded June 30, 2014.

In standard optimal power flow (OPF) formulations, the system parameters are assumed to be constant; i.e., they are assumed to be known. However, in real life, system parameters are uncertain, such as system demand, renewable generation, generator availability, and transmission availability. To capture the uncertainty in system parameters related to demand and renewable resources, robust optimization techniques are proposed. The presented report is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the effect of robust corrective topology control on system reliability and renewable integration while the second part deals with the application of robust optimization for the day-ahead security constrained unit commitment problem.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-51. Uploaded: September 2, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-51. Uploaded: September 2, 2014.

Obtaining new right of ways for constructing transmission lines to handle increased demand for power is fraught with regulatory and legal issues and is extremely time consuming (> 10 years). The industry is interested in alternate methods for increasing power transfer using existing right of ways. High temperature, low sag overhead transmission conductors present an attractive option for high priority circuits as they replace existing conductors and carry higher current than conventional ASCR conductors. The impact of higher cost of construction and losses could be offset by power market enhancement. This project evaluates the effects of elevated temperature on conductor strength (Part I), systems (Part II), and economic impact (Part III) of HTLS conductors. Two types of composite cores, ACCR (aluminum conductor composite reinforced) and ACCC (aluminum conductor carbon composite) were evaluated.

Final PSERC Report for Project T-47. Uploaded on September 10, 2014.

Executive Summary for PSERC Final Report for Project T-47. Uploaded on September 10, 2014.

Market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) is foreseen to grow significantly in the future. EVs provide environmental advantages when compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. They reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions while contributing to energy security through reduction in oil imports. They can be also used to dynamically control the apparent power system load or contribute to ancillary services that support power system operation. This project investigated how EVs, both Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), could be used optimally in electricity and transportation networks. Specifically, this project a) provides a State of Charge model that integrates electricity and transportation impacts of EVs, b) uses the model to study optimal use of EVs in individual and aggregated modes, and c) using testbeds, gives practical examples of monitoring impact on transformers, participation in ancillary services, and integration of communication and information management for charging stations from multiple vendors.

Final PSERC Report for Project T-50G. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Executive Summary for PSERC Final Report for Project T-50G. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

This report is the first of a series of reports on seamless energy management systems. Seamless energy management describes a set of new elements, technologies, and applications for next generation energy management systems characterized by the elimination of unnecessary data management, tool integration, or analysis initiation issues that prevent the user to fully focus on specialized system operation or engineering decision-making. This first report provides an assessment of EMS system and planning decision-making tools, and it develops requirements and strategies for the development of solutions and the integration of seamless systems.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-53G - Part 1. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-53G Part 1. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

This is the second in a series of reports about Seamless Energy Management Systems. The first report “ Seamless Energy Management Systems, Part I: Assessment of Energy Management Systems and Key Technological Requirements” focused on an assessment of the current state-of the art in EMS architectures, and developed technological requirements for seamless systems. This second report focuses on a subset of core technologies for a seamless EMS prototype, including communication systems, unified model, and visualization.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-53G - Part 2. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-53G Part 2. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Massive amounts of novel data are currently being acquired and stored as part of ongoing electricity grid transformation efforts. This data will enable discovery of complex system behavior and enable new decision-making processes to realize higher grid reliability, economy, and sustainability objectives. In three parts, this project report presents various mechanisms to systematically exploit the new data, advancing the current understanding of the load:
- Part I: Real-Time Dynamic Parameter Estimation for an Exponential Dynamic Load Model
- Part II: Exploiting Smart Meter Data for Enhanced Load Modeling
- Part III: Exploiting Weather and Load Recording Data to Enhance Load Modeling.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-49. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-49. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

As the penetrations of variable renewable generation increase, the uncertainty and variability of wind and solar require more resources to follow the variations. Energy storage technologies may become an increasing part of the resource mix for following renewables. This final report addresses several aspects of the economics of using energy storage, optimized for multiple objectives, including cost, congestion, and emissions, for increasing levels of renewable resource penetration. The report is presented in three parts.
- Part I: Optimal Generation Expansion Planning with Integration of Variable Renewables and Bulk Energy Storage Systems
- Part II: The Cost and Benefit of Bulk Energy Storage in the Arizona Power Transmission System
- Part III: Economic Assessment of Energy Storage in Systems with High Levels of Renewable Resources

Final PSERC Report for Project T-48. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

Executive Summary for PSERC Final Report for Project T-48. Uploaded on September 15, 2014.

This research proposes new algorithms for real time stability monitoring in a control center environment. Two distinct but complementary methods are proposed for PMU-based stability monitoring:
(a) waveform analysis to extract the “ trending” information of system dynamics embedded in Lyapunov exponents – Is the system approaching instability?
(b) a real time stability analysis based on energy functions for a faulted system – Will the system remain stable following the fault?
The combination of these approaches provide a comprehensive and predictive stability monitoring system that help to avoid cascading failures and enhance system security.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-50. Uploaded on October 14, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-50. Uploaded October 14, 2014.

Executive Summary from the PSERC Final Report for Project S-52. Uploaded: January 15, 2015.

As wind and solar energy penetration increases, how must the assimilation of this variable power evolve, so as to minimize these integration costs, while maximizing the net environmental benefit? Clearly, strategies which attenuate the increase in conventional reserve requirements will be an essential means to this end. One option is to harness the flexibility in consumption on the demand side. In the following research summary, we describe a new architecture to enable deep penetration of variable renewable generation through coordinated aggregation of a diverse collection of distribution-side networked resources [micro-generation, storage, and responsive loads]. We design novel coordination strategies, analyze their benefit, and simulate their performance. Our research demonstrates systemic value in managing resource clusters, and offers a novel market mechanism design to monetize this value.

Final PSERC Report for Project S-52. Uploaded: January 12, 2015.