1. microgrid simulation activities
Status update
Enrico Ferrera – ISMB

2. Simulation tools Survey
D2.2 – Modelling and Simulation of Energy Systems
Transmission network simulators
MATPOWER (
Matlab tool
PowerWorld (
Commercial license
PowerFactory (
Commercial license, a Demo is available
OpenDSS (
Released June 2013
HOMER (
Not easy to extend
GRIDLab-D (
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

3. GridLAB-D A power distribution system simulation and analysis tool
Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
BSD-style license: vendors can add or extract their own modules and have almost no restrictions on the redistribution of the SW components.
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

4. GridLAB-D Main Features
Agent-based modeling tool
Handles time scales ranging from sub-seconds to many years
clock {
timezone PST+8PDT;
starttime ' :00:00 PST';
stoptime ' :59:59 PST'; }
Supports the modeling of:
3-phase, unbalanced (meshed or radial) power systems
end-use load behavior of thousands to millions of homes and appliances
retail level markets and related controls
distributed generation and storage
demand response and direct load control
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

5. Residential Model
Typical single-family residential units in North America.
They are defined with 110/220 volt distribution panels that allow various end-use loads to be connected.
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

6. GridLAB-D Model
clock { timezone EST+5EDT; starttime ' :00:00'; stoptime ' :59:59'; } module tape; module powerflow; module generators; module climate; module residential { implicit_enduses LIGHTS|PLUGS|REFRIGERATOR|CLOTHESWASHER|DRYER;
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

7. GridLAB-D Model
object climate { name newyork; tmyfile "NY-New_york_city.tmy2"; interpolate QUADRATIC; }; object triplex_meter { name meter1; phases AS; nominal_voltage 120.0; }
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

8. GridLAB-D Model
object inverter { name inverter1; parent meter1; phases AS; rated_power 25000; } object solar { name PV1; parent inverter1; Rated_kVA 4.0 kVA; tilt_angle 45.0; efficiency 1; orientation_azimuth 180.0; //equator-facing (South) orientation FIXED_AXIS; SOLAR_TILT_MODEL SOLPOS; SOLAR_POWER_MODEL FLATPLATE;
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

9. GridLAB-D Model
}; object house { name house1; parent meter1; panel.power_factor 0.98; object waterheater { } object recorder { parent inverter1; property "VA_Out"; file plot:inverter.plot;
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

10. PV Modeling Example: object solar { name PV1; phases AS;
parent inverter1;
Rated_kVA 4.0 kVA;
tilt_angle 45.0;
efficiency 1;
orientation_azimuth 180.0;
orientation FIXED_AXIS;
SOLAR_TILT_MODEL SOLPOS;
SOLAR_POWER_MODEL FLATPLATE; };
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

11. Load Modeling Example: module residential {
implicit_enduses MICROWAVE; }
object house{
name House;
object recorder{
property panel.power,panel.energy;
file "plot:test_microwave_energy.plot";
interval 3600;
limit 100; };
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

12. House + PV
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

13. PV production
23/11/2018
ISMB – Copyright 2013

14. ISMB – Copyright 2013