American Electric Power (AEP) Virtual Power Plant Simulator (VPPS)

Tom Jones, Manger – Corporate Technology Development

American Electric Power Grid-InterOp 2009

Denver, CONov 17-19, 2009

Virtual Power Plant Simulator (VPPS)– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A

VPPS Foundational System South Bend, Indiana

AMI / AMR10,000 Smart Meters• Mesh Network Communications• End-use Tariffs• End-use Controls (Thermostat)

Dolan Technology Center - LaboratoryTest Bed for Modeling Real Resources• Renewables (PV, Wind)• Demand Response• Storage• Distributed Generation VPPS

AEP Smart Grid Demo Topology– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A

Changes to Existing Architecture

Distribution Secondary and End-Use

DistributionOperations

EnergyStorage

Advanced Monitoring, Communications & Control

Utility Operations Customer Premise

AdvancedMonitoring,

Communications& Control

Adapted from EPRI source image

PHEV

CustomerPortal or Meter

LG Electronics

“High Demand Period” “Delay wash 2 hours?”

“Please respond Yes or No”

Changes to Existing Architecture

Distribution Primary System

Station

Station

Station C

3. Automated Meter Infrastructure a. Outage notification b. Automatic meter reading c. Monitor voltage and load d. Gateway to Home Area Network

4. Demand Response and Distributed Energy Resources a. Monitor and control end-use devices b. Monitor and control DER systems and devices c. Integrate into power system optimization

2. Capacitor Automation a. Monitor status b. Monitor VAr req’ts c. Control to optimize VAr supply.

SwitchesCapacitors

Station

Station

CC

PHEV

Energy Storage/DER

Feeder Circuit Breaker

AMI

Communications

Switches

Capacitors C

NO

NONC

NO

NO

NO

NC

Changes to Existing Architecture

The Integrated Power System≈~ ≈

~

≈

~

≈

≈

Commercial

NO/NC

≈≈

Industrial

Residential

Fuel Cell

≈

Storage

≈

≈

≈

WindSolar

Monitoring & Optimization Center

Regional Aggregation/Control

≈

Control Point

Interface Implications to Legacy Systems– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A• Models “Load” as Controllable within bounds:Real and Reactive Power

• Looks beyond the station to the end-use and customer

• Considers load as a “resource”, including distributed energy resources, that could be controlled to relieve system constraints

• Considers the distribution system as a potential resource for contingency planning

The Virtual Power Plant Simulator

Considerations for Emerging/Changing Requirements

Flat Rate Real Time Pricing

No Control Critical Load Only

Daily Cycle Instant Response

On-Peak Charge On-Peak Discharge

Backup Only On-Peak Supply

Cloudy Sunny

Min Base Supply Max Base Supply

Backup Only Full Demand Supply

Demand

Daily Time Cycle

Tariff

Demand

Storage

PHEV

Fossil DG

Solar

Fuel Cell

External

Optimize for Cost

Optimize for Efficiency

$Output (e.g. Cost)

Calm WindyWind

Supply

Surplus Energy

Energy Deficiency

Inte

rnal

Pow

er

The Smart Grid “Control Panel”

Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A• Optimizes resource allocation across power

system• Harmonizes grid operation from end-use to RTO• Enables adoption of renewable and distributed

resources• Permits real time optimization of system under

current operational opportunities and constraints– System constraints– Market value– Environmental constraints

• Simulation prior to mass deployment reduces investment and operational risk

Overall Project Lessons Learned– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A• Vision of Smart Grid as a Virtual Power Plant appears

technically achievable• Operational requirements and impacts need to be

understood and optimized• Economics and system benefits need to be understood

and quantified to optimize resource allocation• Alignment of vision and public policy is needed to

effectively capture societal benefits• Collaboration between industry, academia, and

government is required• The EPRI/AEP Virtual Power Plant Simulator (e.g.

OpenDSS platform) Smart Grid Project permits stepwise evaluation of the various systems and components of a smart grid, including cross-impact analysis

Thank You! Q&A– Changes to existing architecture (if applicable)– Interface implications to legacy systems– Architecture Considerations for Emerging/changing

requirements– Improved Benefits from Architecture Changes

• Overall Project Lessons Learned (3-5 Slides)– Topics could be wide ranging (project planning,

resources, stimulus implications, software integration, hardware installation, customer acceptance, etc.)

– What surprised you? What information would member utilities find interesting?

• Q&A