Evaluation of Communication Issues in Primal-Dual-Based Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS)

With the increasing adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) in distribution networks, distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) are becoming an attractive option to coordinate the control of DERs, especially primal-dual-based DERMS, which is a well-developed class. To help reduce the uncertainty in commercializing DERMS, we evaluate and find the upper limits of severity for some common issues that can occur within the communication systems upon which a primal-dual-based DERMS relies; these issues include packet losses, link failures, and delays. This information can help a DERMS operator decide on the specifications for the communication infrastructure it will invest in for the DERMS. Our evaluation is based on numerical simulations of a real-world feeder with approximately 2,000 nodes and a DERMS that controls 163 photovoltaic generators and 140 energy storage batteries. In general, we find that the DERMS becomes less resistant to communication issues as the information flows closer to the DERs implementing the controllable power injections.