A monitoring and control architecture to increase the hosting capacity in non-synchronous distribution systems

The ever-growing and decentralized production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) has altered the traditional paradigm where electrical distribution systems were conceived for unidirectional flows of energy from higher to lower voltage levels. This transformation raises concerns about several planning and operational aspects, especially in non-synchronous power systems. Such electrical networks are more susceptible to face instability conditions due to the stochastic and intermittent nature of RES, and their inability to provide physical inertia and sustain voltage levels in case of disruptive events. For these reasons and for the low level of smartization of such electrical networks, the hosting capacity is relatively low and the RES penetration is often limited in favour of thermal generation. Clearly, by limiting the hosting capacity of such networks, some of the advantages arising from higher RES integration come less. This paper presents a hierarchical architecture for the monitoring and control of non-synchronous distribution systems, which aims to enable isolated power systems to accommodate a larger amount of RES while preserving their reliability. The control scheme is the result of the collaboration between e-distribuzione, Gridspertise and Politecnico di Bari in the framework of the Italian research project ISMI.