Power System Cognification (PoSyCo) - Aspern Smart City Research

The PoSyCo project is scheduled to run from January 2019 to June 2022 and has a budget of 3.7 million euros. The Climate and Energy Fund is providing 2.5 million euros in funding. The goal pf PoSyCo is to enhance the conventional network protection concept with an intelligent add-on. This SOFT protection system is a tool designed to prevent overloads. At the same time, it creates new sources of information that facilitate improved analysis and faster diagnosis of faults. This represents a challenging but important step towards the smart grids of the future.

Test environments and test cases

In PoSyCo, tests are carried out in the laboratory environments of the partners, by means of simulations using virtual testbeds modelled in BIFROST and in the ASCR Living-Lab in aspern, Vienna’s Urban Lakeside. The aim is to validate the performance and functionalities of the PoSyCo approaches and algorithms. The focus is on system integration, handling of dependencies and interaction between the subsystems of the SOFTprotection applications.

For this purpose, test cases were defined so that the examined use cases as well as the three dimensions “Physical”, “Information and Communication” and “Process” can be validated sufficiently.

The highlights and results can be read in the published final report.

Further information can be found on the TU Graz page in the Center of Knowledge Interchange Siemens.

Project Goals

Project Goals

The upcoming changes in the generation and consumption of electricity due to the increasing number of renewable producers on one hand and e-mobility on the other hand rise new challenges for the electric grids. The overarching goal of the PoSyCo project is to develop solutions that help mitigate the stress on the grid and to test them in different environments.

Under these new conditions not only the hardware has to be reconsidered but also the processes for maintaining and expanding the grid. Furthermore, databases and structures must be set up in order to be able to reliably and securely collect, store and correctly forward the masses of data.

To use the data in a meaningful way, algorithms will be required that preprocess the overwhelming amount of data and provide condensed information and suggestions for decision making by trained personnel.
The training of this personnel requires new infrastructures.
A completely new nomenclature for the data points has to be developed for the entire grid to allow saving the data points correctly, even if there are changes in the grid. These changes can be short lived, e.g. when rerouting during the outage of a connection, but also permanent, e.g. when the grid is expanded or altered.
The roll out of new components into the grid must be supported by software automation to keep the required personnel costs within reasonable limits.
Criteria must be developed that guide the decision on where to deploy which sensors.

Test methods and environments

The PoSyCo Team is going to conduct experimental lab-scale and field tests for a proof-of-concept evaluation of the developed SOFT protection functions and systems. The aim is the validation of performance and functionality of the Power System Cognification methods and algorithm with focus on system integration and interaction between subsystems of the different SOFTprotection stages. Hence a subset of possible test cases is developed for each PoSyCo use case and a subdivision into the three dimensions “physical, information and communication (ICT) and process dimension” is done. The test cases are mapped to the testing methods laboratory, simulation and field.

Test methods

Laboratory tests are conducted by AIT, using a software and hardware in-the-loop testframework for PoSyCo use case 3 on “Overload prevention by customer activation”. The Technical University of Graz (TUG) will conduct “circuit breaker laboratory demonstrator tests” for use case 4 – “overload prevention through temporary meshing”.

Simulation tests are performed by Siemens for demonstration and validation of selected SOFTprotection functionalities. They are demonstrated with the simulation environment Bifrost as accelerated-time simulation and visualization platform.

Field trials with focus on the process dimension will be done in the Living-lab at Aspern.

Specific PoSyCo test environments:

BIFROST, a design tool and simulation environment for the realistic replication of e.g. smart cities or even energy communities with a strong focus on power grid and communication infrastructure. BIFROST is used as a virtual testbed for PoSyCo related solutions in WP6.

AIT Hard- and Software in the Loop Platform: To analyse cyber-physical energy systems, three main components are needed: 1) the physical system, 2) the control system, and 3) the communication network between the controllers. The PoSyCo related implementation is based on OPAL-RT, emulating the physical system as well as Lablink and Redis for creating a communication between controllers and simulation. This allows for a flexible setup that can be used for validation of multiple types of controllers

TU Graz circuit breaker laboratory demonstrator: To enable the practical suitability and a realistic analysis of the Switching Management Module (SMM) algorithm developed for implementing UC 4, the project team has developed a corresponding laboratory demonstrator.

Siemens Testbed for Electromobility: The smart charging application as elaborated within UC3 is being implemented and tested in the newly built charging testbed at the Siemens site in Vienna.

ASCR Testbed Aspern contains intelligent buildings with decentralized production of electrical power and heat. Furthermore, the entire necessary communication infrastructure is already in place there. The power grid can be monitored, and all necessary data collected. The smart charging use case considering interaction with public charging infrastructure will be investigated in a parking garage testbed “SeeHub”infrastructure.

Drivers and Challenges

A lot will change for our power grids in the next few years. Our electric energy will no longer be provided by a few big power plants but instead by decentralized power generation, for example photovoltaic systems. This trend has already started. But also the energy demand will fundamentally change due to the increasing amount of E-mobility and the transition from heating with oil and gas to heating with heat pumps. This development will be intensified by regional energy communities which improve the efficiency of distributed energy systems and the coordination of regional consumption.

Our medium and low voltage power grids serve as supply base for many residential, business, and industrial customers and must be adapted to the new challenges constantly in order to remain fail-safe.

PoSyCo addresses the extension of conventional network protection with SOFTprotection, an intelligent add-on system, to meet subsequent challenges or to take advantage of upcoming opportunities:

The increasing share of e-mobility and the combination of corresponding charging infrastructure, renewable and decentralized energy generation as well as the increased use of battery storage will sooner or later lead to overloads of network segments or transformers.
Different storage systems and charging stations have different characteristics, especially regarding storage capacity and installed power.
The mobility behavior of users and vehicle-specific consumption characteristics must be considered and lead to new utilization scenarios for distribution grids.
Flexibilities of heat pumps, battery storage, photovoltaic systems and e-mobility could be used as actuators by SOFTprotection in case of grid overloads.
To be able to use these flexibilities, the necessary regulatory framework conditions (keyword: digital grid – to – customer interface) and cost-efficient, intelligent technical solutions are required.

These challenges or opportunities are bundled by the PoSyCo consortium into 6 use cases and the derived SOFTprotection functionalities are explored in detail in 5 testbeds or labs.

Exploitation of the results

As a result of this project, it is now clear how a network operator can implement and control the extended network protection both technically and in the organizational processes. The information sources created for this purpose enable improved analysis and faster clarification of faults. As a result, future energy systems with a high proportion of renewable, volatile generation and flexible loads such as e-mobility or battery storage systems can be operated more reliably and safely. In this way, the ultimate goal of every network operator – to ensure security of supply – can continue to be achieved, also with regard to the many future challenges such as the integration of energy communities. Based on the findings of an economic case study and the further SWOT analysis, strategies and measures were identified that can support the energy transition through grid digitalization. The knowledge gained from the project forms the building blocks for future standards and guidelines, standardized components and business cases. Thanks to the know-how built up in the project team in recent years, the partners were able to implement and test the “SOFTprotection” approaches in their testbeds. The results of PoSyCo will contribute to further projects and through the dissertations, diploma theses and the ASCR DemoCenter, they will be disseminated among stakeholders of various kinds and enrich the scientific know-how in the areas of energy transition and intelligent power grids.

Use Cases

Based on the drivers and challenges 6 PoSyCo Use Cases are derived regarding three dimensions: physical, information and communications technology (ICT), and process.

Use Case 0 – Sensor onboarding and sensor network integration

To make measurement data available for analysis by the SOFTprotection system, UC 0 deals with approaches and concepts for the system integration of existing (e.g. in battery energy storage systems (BESS), intelligent secondary substation nodes (iSSN), smart meters (SM)) as well as new sensor technologies to be installed in the distribution grids.

Use Case 1 – Acquisition of field data and streams and fault records

UC 1 defines concepts for data acquisition and intelligent data pre-processing. Relevant measurement data are acquired by decentralised sensors (field devices with integrated measurement functionality such as BESS or SM) or received from external sources (higher-level grid control systems like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition / SCADA, external data sources, etc.). Both continuous data streams (e.g., seconds/minute RMS values for voltages and currents) and event-controlled data sets (e.g., triggered by corresponding events in the grid) are pre-processed, supplemented by additional content (forecasts, residual capacity estimation, etc.), stored and merged to form a system-wide service. Based on this total inventory, all data can be made available for SOFTprotection and visualisation functionalities.

Use Case 2 – Distributed fault analysis for service restoration acceleration

Based on the data collected and pre-processed in UC 1, a meaningful estimation of the system status must be carried out in UC 2 in order to be able to differentiate a grid section in normal operation from a faulty section in an automated way using the SOFTprotection system. Furthermore, the decentralised, automated analysis of faults combined with input (experience) from the technical staff / system operator should provide information about their cause and localise fault locations more precisely. In addition to this, the grid technician is to be provided with an optimised schedule for accelerated grid restoration.

Use Case 3 – Overload prevention by customer activation

In UC 3, possibilities are investigated to react to local overload situations identified in UC 1 or to counteract them through coordinated operation of flexible CPs like electric vehicles, batterie storage systems and heat pumps (HPs). Hereby, especially higher-level charging control strategies for EVCSs are developed.

Use Case 4 – Overload prevention through temporary meshing

UC 4 studies the use of remotely controlled switching devices (such as circuit breakers) to prevent possible local overload situations of line segments by temporary meshing of LV sub-grids. This necessity can be caused, for example, by a high feed-in of a photovoltaic (PV) system and a nearby fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. In addition, methods for the automated avoidance of grid faults or disturbances that can arise from a permanent peak load are to be developed.

Use Case 5 – Stakeholder overarching system interaction and process adaptation

In coordination with the detailed work on Use Cases 0 to 4, UC 5 examines the actual introduction of a SOFTprotection system in terms of supporting conventional protection regarding all involved parties’ needs. On one hand, the stakeholder overarching system interaction and, on the other hand, the respective necessary steps for process adaptation are to be considered and, if necessary, adapted.

PoSyCo consortium

Consortium management and project management: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH

Industry partners: Aspern Smart City Research GmbH & Co KG, Siemens AG Österreich, Wiener Netze GmbH, Wien Energie GmbH

Scientific partner: TU Wien – Institut für Energiesysteme und Elektrische Antriebe, TU Graz – Institut für Elektrische Anlagen, TU Wien – Institute of Computing Engineering (E191)

SME partners: Moosmoar Energies OG

PoSyCo Folder