Project activities will evaluate planning and operation alternatives and improve observability, monitoring and analysis of stability and Power Quality level.

The project has four research strands:

• new models,
• grid control architectures and logic,
• electrical system flexibility,
• distributed resource aggregation and generation and load forecasting.

In order to test the innovative solutions developed by the project, RSE’s Distributed Generation Test Facility will be upgraded by incorporating a multi-energy plant and implementing a hybrid MV and LV multiterminal AC/DC grid.

The following will be considered:

• Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) mixed distribution grids,
• grids arranged in microgrids, clusters or aggregates.

In addition, the role of key actors, such as distributed resources, non-programmable renewable sources, combined cycle thermoelectric plants, hydro-electric pumping systems, electro-chemical storage systems and active users, will be assessed from the perspective of providing flexibility services to the grid, adequacy analysis for frequency regulation and participation in the balancing market and the dispatching service market (Mercato per il Servizio di Dispacciamento, MSD).

New generation and load forecasting techniques, necessary for developing grid energy management systems in the various configurations, will be developed to ensure grid operation in these contexts.