The smart power cell concept: mastering TSO–DSO interactions for the secure and efficient operation of future power systems

Abstract

This article describes a novel power system architecture and operational concept which is founded on the idea of organising sets of distributed generators, loads, storages and multimodal interfaces at distribution level in supervised and controlled grid subsections called smart power cells, which are controllable entities intended to enforce the stability of the transmission network and participate in its operation. Further, the article addresses a control scheme which can be implemented within a smart power cell to control its active and reactive power exchange with the transmission network following set points provided by a superimposed control system, and thus participate in the operation of the transmission grid (e.g. participation in congestion management, system optimisation, balancing of generation and load). The dynamic behaviour of a future power system under consideration of the proposed system architecture including several smart power cells controlled with the developed control scheme is demonstrated through time‐domain simulation using a combined transmission–distribution power system model.

Keywords

• secure operation
• future power system
• power system architecture
• operational concept
• supervised grid subsections
• controlled grid subsections