Distributed Intelligent Agents for Decision Making at Local Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Levels

72384-This project will develop an adaptive, intelligent-agent-based information system to provide real-time, two-way communication and decision making between nodes in a distributed energy resources (DER) system. The design will consist of a collection of reusable intelligent agents that will interoperate within the many interfaces and devices on the power delivery infrastructure. The agents will provide not only analysis and response to electrical grid contingencies but also coordination with power electronics and grid protection schemes to enhance grid reliability. In Phase I, several key design issues were investigated, including assessments of software user needs, intelligent agent structure, object-oriented design, overall software system architecture, data models and communications requirements, and decision logic, analytics, and business rules development. A detailed software plan (including a Software Requirements Document, a Software Specification Document, a Software Architecture Document, and a preliminary User Interface Document) was developed. In Phase II, a commercialized version of the software will be tested in a real environment with actual DER devices connected to a major U.S. electrical system. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The DER intelligent information system should provide a low cost, scalable, flexible mechanism to increase grid reliability and grid stability; enhance the ability of security agencies to respond to emergencies and contingencies; unify the requirements of energy end users, energy system operators, and energy providers; and enable micro-grids and aggregated DER participation into the energy infrastructure.