Francis K. Tuffner

The rapid proliferation of large data centers brings both challenges and opportunities for grid reliability. The data center resources and their potential flexibility have the potential to contribute resources to grid operations. Through capabilities like energy shifting and resource coordination, data centers can help reduce their net demand on the transmission network, as well as provide additional grid services to support reliable operation on the grid. While transient and long-term grid planning and operations are the scenarios that draw most attention, the quasi-steady state timeseries (QSTS) operation of data centers and grid bring interesting scenarios that can help evaluate the data center controls to aid grid services. This work is focused on modeling data centers for QSTS applications – incorporating the AI data center load profiles and building on the PNNL digital twin model for the thermal management loads to enable simulation studies to reveal the impact of data center controls on grid performance. This includes the integration of a QSTS battery and natural gas generator model to incorporate local resource impacts to the system. The simulation study is performed with a modified IEEE 24-Bus transmission system. Scenarios are focused on evaluating the data center load impacts on the transmission system and leveraging both data center and local generation controls to mitigate those impacts and provide additional grid services. The data center controls revealed the ability to contribute to two main kinds of grid services: preventing congestion on a weak grid by coordinating the data center resources with the collocated BESS and onsite generation; and the ability to help the grid operations during stressed times of operation like during a contingency. Leveraging these and other capabilities has the potential to help data centers become grid responsive assets, aiding in both their integration into the power system and grid reliability.

This document highlights the crucial importance of the maritime sector within the United States (U.S.) economy, serving as a key node for trade and global goods transportation. U.S. ports are currently grappling with challenges posed by rising shipping demands, the health impacts of diesel fuel reliance, and the technology adoptions of global trade partners due to increasing environmental regulations. This document proposes forming a technical assistance program, led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), to help U.S. ports transition to sustainable energy solutions that not only improve environmental and community outcomes, but also enhance resilience to unexpected weather events and reduce pressure on local utilities. Coordinated by PNNL, this initiative would offer a web-based platform of consolidated resources and tools for comprehensive strategic planning and cost-benefit analysis. It also seeks to establish a collaborative network between ports and national laboratories to facilitate the sharing of best practices. The document suggests that optimizing resource allocation and providing tailored support could be achieved through strategic categorization of ports within this network, with relevant attributes and examples detailed in the report. The anticipated benefits of such a program could include increased efficiency and cost savings in port operations and the advancement of scientific innovation via alternative energy research. Also, it could enhance economic growth and competitiveness in international trade by enabling ports to meet shipping demands and develop resilient critical infrastructure through informed, long-term strategies.

The global energy landscape is shifting toward sustainability and decentralization, driven by the need for a resilient electric distribution system (EDS) that integrates all energy sources. However, the large-scale integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) is a challenging task, as they can negatively affect the stability and efficiency of the grid. Microgrids facilitate the efficient operation and control of traditional and DERs, yet their widespread deployment remains constrained by high development, installation, and maintenance costs. The novel microgrid building block (MBB) concept enables a sustainable distribution grid by introducing a modular, ultimately standardized, microgrid architecture. An integrated MBB architecture integrates power conversion, control, and communication blocks to form a cohesive microgrid solution. Each block is modular, allowing for scalable microgrid configurations, from remote community setups to utility-scale networked microgrids. The power and communication interfaces also ensure interoperability among devices from different manufacturers. Even without the power conversion function, the MBB control block, which is complementary to existing commercial controllers, can operate with the communication block as a systemwide microgrid controller for simple configurations or act as an agent in a distributed control scheme for networked configurations. It incorporates novel functionalities that ensure steady-state and transient stability and optimal power flow. By moving toward standardized components and interfaces, the MBB significantly reduces capital costs compared to conventional microgrid development. In this article, the MBB concept and technology are illustrated. An MBB testbed at Virginia Tech is used to implement and demonstrate the power conversion, control, and communication functionalities of the MBB. The results of a cost–benefit analysis of MBB-based microgrids are also summarized.

This is the final project report of DistribuDyn project

Co-simulation offers a time-efficient method for ac-curately analyzing the behavior of distribution systems dominated by inverter-based resources (IBRs). However, most co-simulation studies in the literature overlook distribution grids. Additionally, these studies do not discuss practical IBR models nor how to ini-tialize the interface model variables of co-simulation platforms. To obtain co-simulation results that are reasonably accurate for dis-tribution system-based planning and operation, it is pertinent to develop co-simulation platforms well-suited for studying the accu-rate behavior of IBRs coupled to unbalanced distribution grids. This paper introduces an initialization algorithm for initializing the interface model variables of co-simulation platforms. The ini-tialization algorithm is anchored on leveraging the fast execution speed of the per-phase phasor simulation to quickly pre-calculate initial values of interface model variables prior to starting co-sim-ulation. This paper further proposes the inclusion of rate limiters in the co-simulation platforms interface models to prevent the in-capability of the per-phase phasor simulator to clear faults at zero-crossing of currents from falsely impacting the control system of practical IBR models. The proposed methods are validated by benchmarking the results from a per-phase phasor/electromag-netic transient (EMT) co-simulation of an IBRs-dominated IEEE 34-Node test feeder against the results from a full EMT simulation.

Quick use-case summary of the Port of Seattle Networked Microgrid work for inclusion in Port Electrification Handbook references.

Transmission planners must identify and plan for the potential impacts of widespread EV charging on the reliability of the grid. This paper examines how the addition of significant EV charging loads would affect regions of the grid that are susceptible to fault induced delayed voltage recovery (or FIDVR). We find that EV chargers that cease drawing current at the onset of faults and that delay drawing current until sometime after a fault has cleared will not exacerbate FIDVR and label this behavior grid friendly. We find that EV chargers that do not cease drawing current at the onset of these faults or that resume drawing current immediately after the fault has cleared will exacerbate FIDVR and label this behavior grid unfriendly. We emphasize that modeling and information on EV charging behaviors is currently limited and recommend engagement by the transmission planning community with the EV manufacturing community to improve this situation.

Adopting strategic reforms to DER interconnection can help reduce interconnection delays, fairly allocate costs, improve transparency and equity, and support efficient and strategic investment in distribution and sub-transmission grids that can accommodate a rapidly evolving energy landscape. The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange envisions this roadmap and its transmission system companion volume as collaborative resources to facilitate continued stakeholder discussions, problem-solving, and innovation as the U.S. works together to enable simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources all while enhancing the reliability, resiliency, and security of our electric grid.