Demonstration of a Multi-Agent-based control system for active electric power distribution grids

Abstract

The rapidly growing number of distributed energy resources and other kinds of active electric grid components, the limitations of the present electric grid infrastructure and the increased complexity of the networks that comes along with these challenges require new sophisticated control methods for future electric distribution grids. To cope with these challenges a control design is necessary that offers autonomous operation and scalability. This contribution shows the results of the first implementation of a Multi-Agent-System-based Smart Grid control system approach in a real laboratory environment. A so-called islanding case is considered where the laboratory grid equipment gets separated from the utility grid and reconnected again. The agents of the developed control system conduct their assigned equipment to react to the changed situation appropriately, hence demonstrating the control system's applicability on a small-scale electric grid configuration.