A coordination scheme for distributed model predictive control: Integration of flexible DERs

This paper presents a control scheme based on distributed model predictive control (DMPC) for coordinating flexible distributed energy resources (DER) of heterogeneous type in the Smart Grid with minimum system integration effort. This approach can be used for reducing the peak power exchange between the grid and a cluster of units in the same feeder in price-driven demand response applications. Preliminary simulations prove that the proposed coordination scheme for DMPC succeeds in coordinating flexible DER unit, achieving significant peak shaving when required. The rationale of this approach consists in coordinating independent units equipped with local MPC controller via simple information passing and hiding in the local controllers the units' dynamics.