Hierarchical microgrid for advanced power system resilience and reliability

Electricity and Grid Systems Flagship
 

Team: Ram Rajagopal, Simona Onori, Mateus de Castro Ribeiro, Pietro Bosoni, June Flora, Alex Stankovic, Chad Zanocoo,

Military bases face a critical need to enhance energy resilience, ensuring the capability to independently power essential loads for 30 days or more during natural disasters, wartime attacks, or other grid outage events. Existing microgrid solutions for these bases are often non-modular, unable to manage critical loads dynamically, and lacking both load flexibility and integration with emerging energy technologies. Furthermore, the growing adoption of intermittent energy sources introduces significant variability in power supply and quality, necessitating advanced control technologies and supporting infrastructure for reliable integration.

To address these limitations, a software-based solution will be created based on digital twin frameworks that systematically design and evaluate hierarchical microgrid architectures to ensure base-level resilience across a range of operational scenarios, from normal conditions to complete grid disruption. The solution integrates the following key components: ingestion of real-time and historical power data from facilities across the base; development of a digital replica of the base that simulates and optimizes system sizing using a portfolio of generation technologies, including solar photovoltaics, natural gas generators, multiple battery storage types, and load dynamics; delineation of operational zones and their hierarchical structure through iterative optimization, infrastructure constraints, and human-in-the-loop feedback; and scenario-based analysis that allows users to assess trade-offs across technology configurations, equipment sizes, and operational objectives, such as maximizing uptime under extreme events or minimizing total cost of ownership. 

The goal is to deliver actionable intelligence and execute plans for the procurement functions of the military to realize their mission-critical power system resilience and operational reliability.