Distributed MPC-based frequency control for multi-area power systems with energy storage

Abstract This paper proposes a novel distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme for frequency regulation of multi-area power systems with substantial renewable power sources and different types of controllable units including synchronous generators, flexible loads and energy storage devices. The frequency regulation task is firstly formulated as a model predictive control (MPC) problem, and then is solved by a distributed projection-based algorithm via peer-to-peer communication. The objectives of the proposed controller are twofold. Firstly, it is to maintain the system frequency and net inter-area power exchanges at their nominal values by optimally adjusting the active powers of controllable units. Secondly, it is to make the system variables such as the bus frequencies, power output/consumption of each control-lable unit, ramping rates of generators and stored energy levels of storage devices meet their operational constraints. Case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed control method.