CAREER: Distributed Intelligence for Assessing and Enforcing Transient Stability of Electric Power Networks with Heterogeneous Energy Resources

NSF Award Search · 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $550,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This project is motivated by the unprecedented complexity faced today in ensuring the dynamic security of electric power networks hosting heterogeneous electric energy resources (EERs). The project aims to develop two types of distributed intelligence (DI), namely DI-1 and DI-2, for assessing and enforcing system-level, electromagnetic transient (EMT) stability of a broad class of electric power networks in the presence of large disturbances. The project will bring transformative change in how to reliably operate electric power networks with both legacy and next-generation resources. This will be achieved by DI-1, a power-electronic interface that can enforce stability without reprogramming of EER controllers, and DI-2, a software module that self-checks the compatibility of an EER with its host network and adaptively tunes EER controllers to ensure this compatibility. The intellectual merits include: 1) Both types of DI will be able to address the high-order, nonlinear dynamics governing power networks with heterogeneous EERs. 2) DI-1 can self-check and self-enforce the compatibility of EERs with their host grids without reprogramming the controllers of EERs. 3) DI-2 can provide grid operators with real-time situational awareness of grids’ resilience to large external disturbances. 4) EMT-Cloud is the first-of-its-kind, open-access cloud platform enabling nationwide undergraduate and graduate researchers to remotely perform EMT simulations and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) tests. The broader impacts include: 1) The proposed intelligence will enhance the U.S. grids’ resilience under large disturbances by providing system operators with situational awareness on grid stability and by preventing heterogeneous EERs from destabilizing the systems. 2) EMT-Cloud provides nationwide student researchers with an efficient platform for prototyping their power system research ideas requiring HIL/EMT simulations. 3) The project will introduce a course featuring Inverter-Based Resou

Key facts

NSF award ID
2540300
Awardee
San Diego State University Foundation (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
H59JKGFZKHL7
PI
Tong Huang
Primary program
01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Control systems & applications, Energy efficient electronics, CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, Electric power networks, CONTROL SYSTEMS, LEARNING & INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
Estimated total
$550,000
Funds obligated
$550,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
05/01/2026 → 04/30/2031