Impact of communication over a TCP/IP network on the performance of a coordinated control scheme to reduce power fluctuation due to distributed renewable energy generation

Abstract

The integration of small scale solar & wind generation into distribution networks could cause power fluctuations due to the intermittent & random nature of these sources. This could become one of the significant concern in future power system operator. Though the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can address effectively the aforesaid concern, the high cost of batteries making it economically less attractive. The participation of consumers in energy markets actively and allowing some of their equipment to be used in demand side management operations in future has the potential to reduce the capacity requirements of BESS. Wide scale implementations of demand side management require the exchange of information between controllable system elements and a demand management controller in near realtime. The internet, though not guarantying the quality of service, can support information exchange economically and without much coverage related issues. A scheme developed for the coordinated control of system elements to reduce fluctuations caused by renewable sources was tested for its performance when information exchange is carried out over a segment of a university network connected to the internet. Results obtained from this study are also presented in the paper.