National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Overview of NREL’s Distributed Energy Resources Center

Tony SchaffhauserDER Center Director

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Briefing for UTFO GroupMay 7, 2002

Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel

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Context: Linking Renewable Resources and Natural Gas to Meet National Needs

Resource And Environmental Evaluation

WindGeothermal

Solar technologiesWind Turbines

Geothermal plantsBiomass Power

Distributed EnergyHybrid Systems

Hydrogen

Bioenergy

Policy and Economic Analysis

National NeedsTechnology PathwaysResources

Solar National SecurityEnergy InfrastructureClean EnergyEconomic Growth

Natural Gas

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Vision of the Energy System of the Future with Distributed Generation

Clean Energy Choices

Fuel Cell

e -

Powerpark/Microgrid

Hydrogen Storage

Rooftop Photovoltaics

Industrial DG Remote Loads

ElectricStorage

Smart Substation

Fuel Cell

e -

Solar TechnologiesWind TurbinesBiomass PowerGas TechnologiesDistributed EnergyHybrid SystemsHydrogen

Wind Farms

Load as a resource Combined Heat

and Power

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Distributed Energy Resources Can Provide Benefits to Both Consumers and Suppliers

Potential Consumer Benefits• Clean Energy• Lower cost electricity• Reduced price volatility • Greater reliability and power

quality• Energy and load

management• Combined Heat and Power

Potential Supplier Benefits• Reduced electric line loss• Reduced T&D congestion• Grid investment deferment and

improved grid asset utilization• Improved grid reliability• Ancillary services, such as voltage

support or stability, VARs, contingency reserves, and black start capability

• Greater flexibility and energy security

Customer choice, open market access, time of use pricing, and easy interconnection is required to achieve these benefits Customer choice, open market access, time of use pricing, and easy interconnection is required to achieve these benefits

Distributed Energy Resources Center

Resources and Environmental Evaluation

Distributed PowerSystems Integration

Hydrogen andNatural Gas Systems

• National and International Assessment of Renewable Energy Resources

• GIS Analysis of Resource and Environmental Data

• Metrology and Calibration of Worldwide Standards

• Regulatory and Institutional Issues

• Standards and Codes• Engineering and Test

Development• Testing facilities

• Hydrogen Infrastructure Analysis

• Codes and Standards• Fuel Cell Systems

Analysis and R&D Coordination

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Mission of the DER Center

• Lead the development and validation of tools for distributed energy systems

• Link resources and technologies for integration of distributed power and hybrid systems using– renewable energy sources– natural gas technologies – hydrogen and storage systems

• Address technical, environmental and infrastructure barriers• Enable choice of clean, flexible, reliable, and secure energy

for industry, communities, states, and regions.

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An Integrated Resource and Environmental Evaluation Activity

InformationDissemination

Knowledge-BasedGIS Applications

Resource andEnvironmental

AnalysisResource

Quantification

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Geographical Information Systems Analysis Integrates Data and Models

Data Model ResultsGIS Analysis

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Advanced Assessment Techniques Provide Considerable Value over Earlier Analysis

2001 (1 km resolution)

1987 (25 km resolution)

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Distributed Power Systems Integration

Engineering andTest Development

Standards and Codes

Regulatory andInstitutional Issues

Development of standards and codes that address safety, reliability, power quality, and interconnection issues related to the integration of distributed resources with power systems

Research on advanced interconnection systems including hardware and software for DR interconnected with electric power systems

Working with industry, state and local government organizations to eliminate unnecessary barriers to the use of distributed power

IEEE P1547Draft Standard for Interconnecting DistributedResources with Electric Power Systems

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National Goal– DER Systems Applications Operating safely and reliably, providing electric energy or ancillary services of high quality, with minimal environment impact, and at reasonable prices for a safe and secure America (RD)

Distributed

Energy

Resources

DER Applications

DER Technologies

DER Integration

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IEEE Interconnection Standard P1547

• Title: Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems

• Scope: This standard establishes criteria and requirements for interconnection of distributed resources (DR) with electric power systems (EPS).

• Purpose: Provide a uniform standard for interconnection of distributed resources with electric power systems, and requirements relevant to the performance, operation, testing, safety considerations, and maintenance of the interconnection.

• Sponsor: IEEE SCC21 -- Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Dispersed Generation, and Energy Storage; Chair, R. DeBlasio.

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Interconnection Testing Network Activities(In-House and Subcontract)

University of WisconsinOrion - University of Massachusetts (Lowell)Industry Partners - DTE, GE, NiSource

Simulation and Modeling

NREL - DER Test FacilityEPRI - PEACUniversity of Wisconsin

CharacterizationR&D

EPRI-PEACUnderwriters LaboratoriesCertification

Nevada Test SiteDistributed Utility Integration Test - DUAIndustry Partners - GE, NYSERDA, GRI, NRECA, NiSource, Real Energy, DTE

Field Testing and Validation

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Testing Conducted in DP Program

DR Interconnection System

•PV•Wind•Fuel Cell•Microturbine•Genset

Grid Simulatorw/ voltage and

frequency control

Load SimulatorRLC

DPP Testingfocuses on interconnection of DR to electrical grid

Equipment•Protective Equipment•Switches•Electronics•Controls•Communications

Measurements•Power Quality•Stability•Response to disturbances•Performance/ Functionality

UtilityGrid

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Purpose of the NREL Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility

• Support DOE Distributed Power Program goals.• Capitalize on NREL’s expertise and expand capabilities in

testing renewable and distributed energy systems. • Continue leadership with industry in standards

development and validation for distributed resources (P1547, P1589, …).

• Support research subcontracts and aid manufacturers through cooperative testing of their systems for baseline comparisons

• Coordination of testing at field sites.

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NWTC Site View and Location of HPTB - DERTF

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Update on NREL DER Test Facility (Phase 0)

• Concrete Pad for DG Testing installed• Installation of Capstone Turbine completed –initial startup expected October 15

• Expansion of HPTB building is completed • Electrical and Mechanical modifications for research testing completed

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Update on NREL DER Test Facility (Phase 0)

Construction completed and General Purpose Equipment installed

200kW Grid Simulator – Simulate utility grid and full control of voltage and frequency to test DG response to grid disturbances

Yokogawa PZ4000 -Power analyzer – For Data Acquisition and measurement

KeyTek Surge Tester –Simulate high-voltage (up to 20,000V) lightning strikes on DG equipment

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Distributed Energy Resources Systems TestingDistributed Energy Resources Systems Testing

Wind Turbines

PV Array

Battery Banks

Inverters

Fuel CellsElectrolyzer

Microturbines

Thermal Converters

Building Thermal Loads

Utility GridGrid Simulator

AC Bus

Diesel Generators DC Bus

Load Simulators

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Hydrogen Infrastructure Highlights• Lead laboratory for H2 Program safety, codes and standards

– Coordinate with other federal, state and local agencies– Technical advisor to International Code Council’s (ICC) Committee– Preparing safety primer for local building and fire code officials

• Hydrogen infrastructure planning– Prepared 5-year “Blueprint for Hydrogen Infrastructure Development” for

hydrogen vehicles based on industry workshop– Technical staff to Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel (HTAP)– Led scenario planning for long-term hydrogen RD&D portfolio

• Integrate and test renewable-energy power packages at NREL/NWTC

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Summary: Linking Renewable Resources and Natural Gas to Meet National Needs

Resource And Environmental Evaluation

WindGeothermal

Solar technologiesWind Turbines

Geothermal plantsBiomass Power

Distributed EnergyHybrid Systems

Hydrogen

Bioenergy

Policy and Economic Analysis

National NeedsTechnology PathwaysResources

Solar National SecurityEnergy InfrastructureClean EnergyEconomic Growth

Natural Gas

Distributed Energy Resources Web LinksDistributed Energy Resource Centerwww.nrel.gov/energy_resources

Distributed Powerwww.eren.doe.gov/distributedpower www.eren.doe.gov/der

Hydrogenwww.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen

Measurement & Instrumentation Data Centermedc.nrel.gov

Renewable Resource Data Centermedc.nrel.gov

Resource Maps & Datawww.nrel.gov/gis

Solar Radiation Research Laboratorywww.nrel.gov/srrl