Virtualization of the smart grid using entity/relation model

Not far into the future, the Smart Grid is regarded as the next generation power grid. In fact, this system uses information, two-way cyber-secure communication technologies, and computational intelligence. It is an integrated fashion across electricity generation, transmission, distribution, storage and consumption. This will achieve a system that is clean, safe, secure, reliable, resilient, efficient, and sustainable. Therefore, the power grid needs to integrate reliable components, smart devices, distributed energy resources (DER), energy storage system (ESS) and advanced ICT. To do so, a virtualization of the system is primordial in order to test the implementation of such components and avoid costly operations. In this paper, we propose an object-oriented model to determine actors and highlight their roles and interactions. The effectiveness of the proposed modeling concept is shown through an entity/relation model. To validate our model, we focus on demand response and dynamic pricing programs. The objective is to explore the effect of a residential double-auction market, using transactive controllers and billing mode. Simulation results show that the association of automated bidding and demand response leads to utility demand reduction. Moreover, it helps customers to control their bill and use the electricity wisely.