Integrated systems testing of a smart home for increased grid hosting capacity

Increased integration of distributed energy resources (DER) depends on addressing a number of technical challenges, both on the planning side—the interconnection process—and likewise how the DER interacts with distribution operations. These two domains are obviously linked. This paper presents the results of the first phase of a project considering the testing and demonstration of DER and a real-time control platform for managing grid constraints under high clean energy deployment levels. The power hardware in the loop testing, conducted at NREL's ESIF smart power lab, demonstrated improved integration of a smart home and its associated DER using active network management (ANM). Results are presented and discussed for management of reverse reactive power constraints. The team also successfully demonstrated management of voltage rise and import constraints.