CASE STUDIES
Duke Energy Leads Standardization of a New Interoperability Framework for its Microgrid Reference Architecture
CHALLENGE
Traditional central-station power grids operate on 15-minute output update cycles that result in operators over-generating power to compensate for variation in power generation or demand . To efficiently integrate distributed energy resources , the grid needs fast-reacting intelligence at the edge .
SOLUTION
Duke Energy is committed to distributed intelligence and establishing a grid that is more simple and cost-effective to operate . The company partnered with 25 utilities , vendors , research labs and government agencies to form the Coalition of the Willing ( COW-II ). The goal of the Coalition is to lead the development and commercialization of a field device interoperability framework , known as the Open Field Message Bus ( OpenFMB™ ).
This framework is a standards-based solution to reduce implementation complexity and integration costs and was formally adopted by two task forces within the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel ( SGIP ) and the North America Energy Standards Board ( NAESB ).
BENEFITS
The Coalition has demonstrated there are alternative ways to achieve enhanced microgrid operations . The microgrid test bed exhibits a diverse set of technologies that all communicate in the Data-Distribution Service ( DDS ), Message Queue Telemetry Transport ( MQTT ) or advanced message queue protocol ( AMQP ) open IoT pub / sub protocols , including the following assets :
1 . |
100-kW PV solar system with smart inverter capabilities |
2 . |
250-kW battery energy storage system |
3 . |
10kW solar carport with EV charging capabilities |
4 . |
500-kW automated resistive load-bank |
5 . |
Instrumented and automated distribution grid equipment , such as reclosers , smart meters , |
sensors and PMUs |
6 . |
Wireless devices , supporting Wi-Fi , 4G LTE , 900 MHz RF and AMI Mesh |
7 . |
An envision room with appliances and smart breaker monitoring and control capabilities |
8 . |
An operations room with commercial application software to monitor and control the microgrid |
components |
This project has offered a transferable test harness and validated baseline for the upcoming utility test beds at CPS Energy , Southern California Edison , EPRI , NREL , Oak Ridge Labs and other utilities and national labs that plan to implement the OpenFMB reference architecture .
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