A platform for demand response and intentional islanding in distribution grids: The LIVING GRID demonstration project

An optimization-based platform is presented to request ancillary services and perform demand response. The work has seen a joint effort of the Italian TSO and DSO (Transmission and Distribution System Operators) and active local prosumers within the LIVING GRID innovation and demonstration project. The platform, a pure software architecture based on existing control and supervision equipment in the prosumer's plant, embeds optimization models, can communicate reference values for active and reactive power and perform intentional islanding and demand response in portions of the distribution grid and microgrids. Two possible configurations have been tested: Single PoC (Point of Connection) and Multi-PoC. The results of the optimization model and in-field experiments are presented and discussed for the considered pilot site: the Savona Campus Smart Polygeneration Microgrid (University of Genova, Italy).