Design, Integration, Testing and Lessons Learned of a Utility Operated Microgrid Master Controller

In modern power distribution systems, microgrids enable higher penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and higher resiliency of the electric system. The legacy distribution supervisory control and data acquisition (D-SCADA) systems cannot provide granular control for a highly dynamic microgrid system. Therefore, utilities are proactively developing microgrid master controllers (MMC) to control the assets within the microgrid at the required levels of granularity, and optimize its operational performance in terms of economics, efficiency and carbon emissions. This paper describes the functional design of an MMC for a utility operated microgrid, and presents the control hardware in the loop (CHIL) test results with an actual utility operated microgrid model implemented in real time digital simulator (RTDS). This paper also discusses several challenges associated with the design and the implementation of an MMC for the field operation.