This paper provides a view to Peer-to-Peer (P2P) approach for smart grid operation adopted in P2P-SmarTest project. It provides an overview on solutions proposed for distributed P2P energy trading, P2P grid control and wireless communication enabling the proposed P2P operation. The paper proposes some business models that can be adopted in a P2P setting. We also outline the barriers and enablers against and for adopting local or regional P2P based electricity operations.

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) creates new voltage issues in distribution networks. This study proposes an algorithm that mitigates these issues, by actively managing the active and reactive power of those DERs. The control problem is formulated as an optimisation problem. The study proposes solving the problem in a fully distributed manner and presents a methodology to convert a centralised constraint optimisation problem into a fully distributed constraint optimisation problem based on dual decomposition, linearised model of the distribution network and peer-to-peer communication protocol. A real low-voltage residential semi-urban feeder from the region of Flanders, Belgium has been used as a case study. The simulation results show the ability of the proposed peer-to-peer control algorithm to control the voltage effectively within limits.

This paper provides a solution to estimate synchrophasors with high accuracy at offnominal frequencies using a nominal frequency clock. The sampling rate is fixed, while the amplitude of the sampled values is altered to generate a sequence of samples whose sampling frequency is synchronized to the power system frequency. The recomputation of the synchronized samples is performed by cubic spline interpolation. The algorithm requires knowledge of the fundamental frequency of the power system which is estimated based on the phase-angle difference between two phasors. The performance of the algorithm has been tested by simulation, through different scenarios, following the test conditions described in the IEEE Standard C37.118.1-2014a. The test cases include: steady state with offnominal frequencies, harmonic distortions, amplitude and phase modulations, positive and negative ramps of frequency, and frequency jump. The simulation results show the technique's capability in efficiently dealing with harmonics and offnominal frequencies under static and dynamic conditions.

With the rise of distributed energy resources, photovoltaic-battery systems are needed to maintain voltages within limits, and balance between demand and supply. These systems can be exploited more by controlling them to provide multiple, stacked services. In this paper, we propose a novel control methodology for photovoltaic-battery systems to provide simultaneously distributed voltage control and frequency containment reserve. The control methodology is structured in two phases. In the day-ahead phase, the control problem is formulated as a robust optimization problem. The aims of this optimization problem are to allocate fractions of the energy and power capacity of each battery energy storage system to the two services, minimize the expected cost of reactive power compensation and batteries degradation, maximize profits from frequency control, and compute a set of linear control policies. The optimization problem also aims to immunize against service unavailability, and violating operational limits. This immunity is accomplished by considering the uncertainty in the households’ active power consumption, photovoltaic power generation, and grid frequency. In the real time phase, the linear policies are applied to regulate voltage profiles, and keep energy contents of batteries within limits while providing frequency control. A 120-node low voltage network is used as a case study. Simulations over 104 scenarios are used to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed control methodology.

As more distributed energy resources (DERs) such as PV generation, batteries and electrical vehicles are installed in the distribution grid, controlling the voltage to be within allowed limits is becoming a major challenge. A possible solution is to actively use the active and reactive power control capabilities of these DERs to keep the voltage within limits. For this purpose, new control algorithms have to be developed that are able to coordinate the DERs and allow them to participate in voltage control. In this perspective, this paper presents a novel voltage control algorithm, based on peer-to-peer control and gossiping communication. The proposed algorithm is able to operate in a distributed manner, with no central coordinator, thereby keeping all control local and eliminating any single point of failure. The algorithm can be executed asynchronously, with limited data exchange between the agents. A case study is presented, showing the ability of the proposed control algorithm to follow rapidly changing load profiles as encountered in the distribution grid, thereby keeping the voltage within tight limits.