Advanced metering applications in microgrids: A hardware-in-the-loop electric power setup

Distributed generation including renewable energies have spurred the development of microgrids as a new alternative to electric energy system. We have built the Sustainability Energy Center (SEC) at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez (UPRM) and within it developed a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) setup that allows researchers, graduate and under graduate students and others to acquire a deeper understanding of microgrids, microgrid integration and control and renewable energy. In this paper we present the design and implementation of the HIL focusing in energy management system (EMS) and advance metering components. Experimental results of a demand response application using meter data is also developed and presented.