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Power systems with utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) can significantly influence the operating points (OPs) of synchronous generators, particularly during periods of high solar PV generation. A sudden drop in solar PV output due to cloud cover or other transient conditions will alter the generation of synchronous generators shifting their OPs. These shifted OPs can become a challenge for stability as the system may operate closer to its stability limits. If a disturbance occurs while the system is operating at the shifted OP, with reduced stability margins, it will be more vulnerable to increased oscillations, loss of synchronism of its generator(s) and system instability. This study introduces a scalable delta-automatic generation control (delta-AGC) logic method designed to address stability challenges arising from shifts in the OPs of synchronous generators during abrupt drops in PV generation. By temporarily adjusting the OPs of synchronous generators through modification of their participation factors (PFs) in the AGC logic dispatch, the proposed method enhances power system stability. The proposed delta-AGC logic method focuses on the optimal determination of delta-PFs in power systems with large number of generators, using the concept of coherency and employing a hierarchical optimization strategy that includes both inter-coherent and intra-coherent group optimization. Additionally, a new electromechanical oscillation index (EMOI), integrating both time response analysis (TRA) and frequency response analysis (FRA), is utilized as an online situational awareness tool (SAT) for optimizing the system’s stability under various conditions. This online SAT has been implemented in a decentralized manner at the area level, limiting wide-area communication overheads and any cybersecurity concerns. The delta-AGC logic method is illustrated on a modified IEEE 68 bus system, incorporating large utility-scale solar PV plants, and is validated through real-time simulation. Various cases, including high-loading conditions with and without power system stabilizers, conventional AGC logic, and delta-AGC logic, are carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed delta-AGC logic method. The results illustrate the performance and benefits of the delta-AGC logic method, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance power system stability. 

A comprehensive understanding of the topology of the electric power transmission network (EPTN) is essential for reliable and robust control of power systems. While existing research primarily relies on domain-specific methods, it lacks data-driven approaches that have proven effective in modeling the topology of complex systems. To address this gap, this paper explores the potential of data-driven methods for more accurate and adaptive solutions to uncover the true underlying topology of EPTNs. First, this paper examines Gaussian Graphical Models (GGM) to create an EPTN network graph (i.e., undirected simple graph). Second, to further refine and validate this estimated network graph, a physics-based, domain specific refinement algorithm is proposed to prune false edges and construct the corresponding electric power flow network graph (i.e., directed multi-graph). The proposed method is tested using a synchrophasor dataset collected from a two-area, four-machine power system simulated on the real-time digital simulator (RTDS) platform. Experimental results show both the network and flow graphs can be reconstructed using various operating conditions and topologies with limited failure cases. 

The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the electric power distribution system poses numerous challenges and opportunities for optimizing energy management and system operations. Electric vehicle grid interfaces (EVGIs), essentially bidirectional power converters, allow for charging/grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and discharging/vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power transfers. A power dispatch estimation (PDE) model for V2G, based on availability of EVs in a distribution system and capabilities of the distribution system, is needed to assist in grid operations. This paper presents the development of a PDE model based on nodal power flows to capture the complex spatiotemporal dependencies inherent in G2V and V2G patterns. The hierarchical structure of a distribution system, feeder to EVGI node, is taken into consideration for PDE. Typical PDE estimation results are presented for the IEEE 34 test node feeder distribution system allocated with EVGIs. 

The decline of conventional synchronous generators in the modern power system is driven by the increasing demand for low-inertia/inertia-less renewable energy sources (RES), consequently leading to the growing integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) into the power system. The incorporation of low-inertia/inertia-less IBRs makes the monitoring and damping of low-frequency electromechanical oscillations (EMOs) crucial. While Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) control introduces virtual inertia into the power system, it does not maximize energy capture from RES as effectively as maximum power point tracking (MPPT) does, as it should maintain a power reserve to provide the inertial support and damping. In this study, switching IBRs between MPPT and VSG controls based on an EMO index (EMOI) threshold is proposed to mitigate the emergence of EMO. The impact of the switching control of IBRs is illustrated for a modified two-area, four-machine power system with two large solar photovoltaic plants. Typical results are presented from a simulation on real-time digital simulator (RTDS) to show improved EMOI. 

The complexity of the power system has increased due to recent grid modernization and active distribution systems. As a result, monitoring and controlling modern power systems have become challenging. Dynamic security assessment (DSA) in power systems is a critical operational situational awareness (OpSA) tool for the energy control center (ECC). State-of-the-art (SOTA) DSA has been based on traditional state estimation utilizing the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) / phasor measurement units (PMU) and transmission network topology processing (TNTP) based on SCADA monitoring of relay signals (TNTP-SMRS). Due to the slow data rates of SCADA, these applications cannot efficiently support an online DSA tool. Furthermore, an inaccurate network model based on TNTP-SMRS can lead to erroneous DSA. In this paper, a distributed dynamic security assessment (D-DSA) based on multilevel distributed linear state estimation (D-LSE) and efficient and reliable hierarchical transmission network topology processing utilizing synchrophasor network (H-TNTP-PMU) has been proposed. The tool can be used in real-time operation at the ECC of modern power systems. D-DSA architecture comprises three levels, namely Level 1 - component level security assessment (substations and transmission lines), Level 2 - area level security assessment, and Level 3 - network level security assessment. D-DSA concurrently evaluates all available substations’ security in the substation security assessment (SSA) and all available transmission lines’ security in the transmission line security assessment (TSA). Under the area security assessment (ASA), all SSA and TSA in each area are separately integrated to assess the area SSI (ASI-SSI) and TSI (ASI-TSI). Subsequently, each area’s area-level security index (ASI) is calculated by fusing ASI-SSI and ASI-TSI. At the network level security assessment, network SSI (NSI-SSI) and TSI (NSI-TSI) are estimated by fusing all ASI-SSIs and ASI-TSI, respectively. Network level security index (NSI) is estimated by fusing the NSISSI and NSI-TSI in network security assessment (NSA). Typical results of D-DSA are presented for two test systems, the modified two-area four-machine power system model and the IEEE 68 bus power system model. Results indicate that the proposed D-DSA can complete the assessment accurately at the PMU data frame rate, enabling online security assessment regardless of the network size. 

State estimation (SE) is an important energy management system application for power system operations. Linear state estimation (LSE) is a variant of SE based on linear relationships between state variables and measurements. LSE estimates system state variables, including bus voltage magnitudes and angles in an electric power transmission network, using a network model derived from the topology processor and measurements. Phasor measurement units (PMUs) enable the implementation of LSE by providing synchronized high-speed measurements. However, as the size of the power system increases, the computational overhead of the state-of-the-art (SOTA) LSE grows exponentially, where the practical implementation of LSE is challenged. This paper presents a distributed linear state estimation (D-LSE) at the substation and area levels using a hierarchical transmission network topology processor (H-TNTP). The proposed substation-level and area-level D-LSE can efficiently and accurately estimate system state variables at the PMU rate, thus enhancing the estimation reliability and efficiency of modern power systems. Network-level LSE has been integrated with H-TNTP based on PMU measurements, thus enhancing the SOTA LSE and providing redundancy to substation-level and area-level D-LSE. The implementations of D-LSE and enhanced LSE have been investigated for two benchmark power systems, a modified two-area four-machine power system and the IEEE 68 bus power system, on a real-time digital simulator. The typical results indicate that the proposed multilevel D-LSE is efficient, resilient, and robust for topology changes, bad data, and noisy measurements compared to the SOTA LSE. 

Renewable energy generation sources (RESs) are gaining increased popularity due to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate effects of climate change. Planning and managing increasing levels of RESs, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV) generation sources is becoming increasingly challenging. Estimations of solar PV power generations provide situational awareness in distribution system operations. A digital twin (DT) can replicate PV plant behaviors and characteristics in a virtual platform, providing realistic solar PV estimations. Furthermore, neural networks, a popular paradigm of artificial intelligence may be used to adequately learn and replicate the relationship between input and output variables for data-driven DTs (DD-DTs). In this paper, DD-DTs are developed for Clemson University’s 1 MW solar PV plant located in South Carolina, USA to perform realistic solar PV power estimations. The DD-DTs are implemented utilizing multilayer perceptron (MLP) and Elman neural networks. Typical practical results for two DD-DT architectures are presented and validated.