Optimizing DER Placement for Resilient and Collaborative Control Applications

The growing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) within power systems provides the potential to improve grid resilience through strategic placement and operations. This study explores optimizing DER placement to support flexible and collaborative power grid control applications. A set of placement strategies, based on resilience metrics derived from network topology and enabled by facility location models, is proposed, each tailored to address the unique challenges of energy resource allocation. Two case studies exemplify the practical implications of these approaches, particularly in the contexts of collaborative black start restoration and voltage support, demonstrating how strategic positioning facilitates decentralized, autonomous control. The analyses highlight how such placements mitigate single points of failure and foster a robust, distributed infrastructure, underscoring the role of DERs in strengthening grid resilience.