Research Infrastructures integration to foster Smart Grid testing

Abstract

The energy transition is changing the electrical power system. The increasing number of distributed energy resources in the distribution system and the digitalisation of most of the sensors and actuators are bringing the electrical grid to became a Smart Grid. Component and system testing for Smart Grid topics can introduce many challenges. ERIGrid Project tried to Figure out some of the upcoming issues investigating the possibility to expand Smart Grids laboratories potentialities and capabilities by means of research institutes cooperation and Research Infrastructures integration. Different tools for laboratory integration have been developed in the project. Among them a new methodology, called Holistic Test Description, has been developed with the goal to help researchers to clearly identify the test scope and the best test procedure to be adopted. Moreover a new communication tool, called JaNDER, has been developed by Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico (RSE) which is also member of the consortium of ERIGrid Project. This tool allows real time data communication between Research Infrastructures in an easy and effective way enabling a virtual connection between laboratories. These tools have been successfully tested and proved in the Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility (DER-TF) of RSE both by RSE researchers and also external users demonstrating the possibility to largely extend Smart Grid laboratories experimental potentialities. This paper shows some of the developed tools and presents some tests performed in RSE DER-TF that demonstrate how laboratories integration can reduce test set-up timing, optimise laboratory usage and improve the quality of experimental testing activities.