Distribution System Architecture Transformation
Creators: Joseph Paladino
Jim Ogle
Mark Esguerra
Paul De Martini
Joseph Baranski
Publisher: name: IEEE
Year: 2024

Incorporation of decentralized generation or distributed energy resources (DERs), combined with increasing storage and edge devices, is transforming the electric grid. The increase in natural and manmade disasters is forcing us to rethink how the grid components should be hardened and structure should be made resilient in order to mitigate outages. There are a multitude of potential benefits with this increasing use of distributed renewable energy resources that cover economic, environmental, and societal dimensions.  However, the traditional electric industry is not yet structured to leverage these resources fully.  A number of system level challenges exist that must be addressed; these include regulatory, operational, and interoperability issues.  In many parts of the country, regulatory structures and tariffs are based on centralized generation and one-way energy flow to the consumer.  Minimal coordination exchange occurs between transmission and distribution providers, and the separation of control creates obstacles in leveraging DER into grid services.  Multiple new entities such as prosumers, aggregators, building managers, and others are now involved in the flow of energy across the grid; this leads to limited visibility of DER resources and grid edge assets due to lack of consistent application of protocols and communication standards. The only way we can harness the power of DER and grid edge devices is through a systematic transformation of the architecture of the system aimed at integrating the different desirable changes while overcoming the systemic issues.  This panel will take a grid architecture approach to identify the key architectural considerations to support grid transformation objectives with special focus on distribution system and the T&D interface. Our proposed panel will focus on how to plan, coordinate and orchestrate all the changes that are taking place in the grid in a harmonized manner. We will discuss a systematic approach of first identifying the different requirements, determining the appropriate architectural specifications (which will allow integration of all of the necessary changes together), and developing the necessary coordination framework or grid codes to help execute those. This panel will provide information and insights from experts in the field, and will include diverse perspectives from panelists with utility, consultancy, national laboratory and government affiliations.
Incorporation of decentralized generation or distributed energy resources (DERs), combined with increasing storage and edge devices, is transforming the electric grid. The increase in natural and manmade disasters is forcing us to rethink how the grid components should be hardened and structure should be made resilient in order to mitigate outages. There are a multitude of potential benefits with this increasing use of distributed renewable energy resources that cover economic, environmental, and societal dimensions.  However, the traditional electric industry is not yet structured to leverage these resources fully.  A number of system level challenges exist that must be addressed; these include regulatory, operational, and interoperability issues.  In many parts of the country, regulatory structures and tariffs are based on centralized generation and one-way energy flow to the consumer.  Minimal coordination exchange occurs between transmission and distribution providers, and the separation of control creates obstacles in leveraging DER into grid services.  Multiple new entities such as prosumers, aggregators, building managers, and others are now involved in the flow of energy across the grid; this leads to limited visibility of DER resources and grid edge assets due to lack of consistent application of protocols and communication standards. The only way we can harness the power of DER and grid edge devices is through a systematic transformation of the architecture of the system aimed at integrating the different desirable changes while overcoming the systemic issues.  This panel will take a grid architecture approach to identify the key architectural considerations to support grid transformation objectives with special focus on distribution system and the T&D interface. Our proposed panel will focus on how to plan, coordinate and orchestrate all the changes that are taking place in the grid in a harmonized manner. We will discuss a systematic approach of first identifying the different requirements, determining the appropriate architectural specifications (which will allow integration of all of the necessary changes together), and developing the necessary coordination framework or grid codes to help execute those. This panel will provide information and insights from experts in the field, and will include diverse perspectives from panelists with utility, consultancy, national laboratory and government affiliations.