Co-optimizing Energy, Grid Services and Voltage Support in Networks with Distributed Storage

This paper presents a framework for co-optimization of energy arbitrage, grid (ancillary) services, and network voltage support subject to real world cyberphysical constraints in an electric distribution network with high DER penetration, specifically distributed storage and solar generation. The framework uses a previously introduced 2-layer architecture, which is appropriately modified to minimize excess voltage deviations and total energy cost while simultaneously maximizing profit from participation in frequency regulation and ramping services. The global controller handles resource scheduling and grid service disaggregation while respecting network constraints. Each local controller attempts to maximize arbitrage profit while following the load profile and grid service schedule dictated by the global controller. Simulations using a benchmark distribution network show that: (i) the performance of the proposed controller is close to that of a perfect foresight controller and better than an opportunistic controller that does not plan for grid service events, (ii) the controller behaves as expected with the price signals, and (iii) it performs effectively across a wide range of solar and storage penetrations and configurations.