Overview

With the expanding deployment of DER, the rapid deployment of Grid Modernization technologies, and an importantly increased focus on Resilience, the Distribution Control Center is experiencing a dramatic increase in complexity. This project set focuses on developing and demonstrating new technologies, tools, techniques, processes and training methods to enable DCC managers and professionals to meet these challenges, while improving their ability to offer safe, reliable and efficient electric distribution service to their customers.

It is clear that significant changes are no longer on the horizon, but occurring now within the Distribution Control Center. These changes cover a wide range of topics. This project set has been designed to address these topics through a number of key areas including: Training New System Operators, Cyber Security, Situational Awareness, Operations with DER, determining how to implement a DSO, and Incorporation of Grid Modernization technologies. These areas are interdependent, and thus these research activities have been carefully designed to be complementary, while delivering both incremental and long-term value.

Ultimately, this research project set is equipping Distribution Control Center managers and professionals with specific results that can be immediately implemented or included in upcoming system upgrades or enhancements to meet the pending challenges head on.

Key Research Areas

Advance DMS Applications and Automation

Algorithms to unlock value of DER and manage active system including improvements to existing applications and development of new capabilities

Future DSO Requirements

New processes and tools enable DSO including the new roles/responsibilities required

Operational Visibility

Guidance and analytics to achieve least-cost means for operational visibility using DER forecasting and AMI

Modernizing DCC

Guidance and leading practices to design and manage a modern DCC including guidance to improve situational awareness

Reliability & Resilience

Analytics & tools to evaluate reliability improvements and maximize their potential benefits as the system evolves

Future Operator Training

Training and curriculum for DMS applications, alarm management, cyber security

Research Value

This research takes advantage of the combined expertise of utility DCC professionals, EPRI distribution operations experts, modelling and simulation resources, laboratory resources, and industry subject matter experts to conduct research activities. Depending on the specific project need, this collaboration will incorporate a mix of surveys, guided interviews, data analytics, webcasts, on-site workshops, modeling/simulation efforts, laboratory experiments, proof of concept deployments, and/or field demonstrations to develop and prove the solutions being developed. This approach strives for the future, while remaining firmly grounded in safe operating practices, operational realities, practical experience, and the need to maintain service reliability. The results of this research are directly applicable in a tangible way by DCC professionals and the staff and vendor community who support them. Application of the results enables:

• Maximize the reliability improvements per dollar invested
• Improve Situational Awareness in Control Center, resulting in improvements in reliability and safety
• Support utility plans to deploy Distribution Management Systems and evolve Distribution Control Centers
• Enhance the training of new and existing system operators to meet evolving needs
• Enhance cyber response and recovery preparedness in distribution operations by Identify vulnerabilities and brainstorming mitigations for cyber-attacks.
• Innovate, test and demonstrate techniques and methods to manage increasing penetrations of DER from the Distribution Management System, coordinating between DSO and TSO

Task Force

This task force consists of utility subject-matter experts in areas related to distribution operations including control center managers, operations support engineers/operational planning, distribution operators, and grid modernization strategy. It is a good opportunity to network with your peers at other utilities, understand how to apply the latest findings, and advise the EPRI research throughout the year. This task force meets roughly every month via webex. That latest calendar can be found here. Members are encouraged to participate in several ways:

• Attend task-force meetings and provide input on projects
• Provide data on your utility’s system
• Provide information on your utility’s methods, tools, and practices (a survey for example)
• Review and comment on reports and findings

If you have questions about the task force, contact Lindsey Rogers

Related Research

Supplemental Projects

Application Opportunities

• Grid Modernization Strategic Roadmapping
• Alarm Management Implementation for DCC
• DMS Application Testing
• Protection Technology and Logic Testing
• Surgical Load Shedding to Support Energy Supply and Demand Balancing

For more on supplemental project opportunities, click here. To discuss project ideas, contact Lindsey Rogers