With support from CenterPoint Energy and TEES Smart Grid Center, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) conducted a Workshop on distribution planning and operations analysis techniques considering the requirements of the modern integrated power grid at Texas A&M on April 19-21, 2017. The Workshop addressed both conventional planning analysis as well as advanced techniques for modeling such things as distributed generation and energy storage. Roger Dugan, Senior Technical Executive in Power System Studies at EPRI, was the instructor of the event. The Workshop utilized the EPRI Open-source Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS) program to demonstrate the concepts presented. OpenDSS is a comprehensive electrical system simulation tool with special features for multiphase electric utility distribution systems analysis. OpenDSS is EPRI’s main tool for research into distribution system analysis. The program supports all rms steady-state (i.e., frequency-domain) analyses commonly performed for utility distribution systems. In addition, it supports many new types of analyses that are designed to meet future needs, many of which are being dictated by the grid modernization efforts of US utilities and other electric power distribution companies worldwide. Many of the features found in the program were originally intended to support analysis of distributed generation on distribution systems. Other features support analysis of power delivery energy efficiency, solar photovoltaic generation, and harmonics analysis. OpenDSS is designed to be indefinitely expandable so that it can be easily modified to meet future needs. Besides utility distribution engineers, this Workshop is highly recommended for electric power engineering students. The OpenDSS solution engine was driven from a variety of software platforms favored by students such as MATLAB and Python, making the program particularly useful for graduate research. OpenDSS was introduced on the first day and then used in the examples for the rest of the Workshop.
The following TEES Smart Grid Center Collaborators also gave presentations: Haitham Abu-Rub, Robert Balog, Karen Butler-Purry, Mladen Kezunovic (Center Director), B. Don Russell, and Le Xie.
Sponsors: CenterPoint Energy, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and TEES Smart Grid Center.
