Getting the Architecture Right Jeffrey D. Taft, PhD Chief Architect for Electric Grid Transformation Pacific Northwest National Laboratory March 17, 2016 Building the Networked Electricity Grid Workshop

Emerging Trends Distribution grids may become open access networks New market-control needs for high penetration mixed DER Changing roles and responsibilities for utility entities Physical changes to the grid 2

Every Grid Change Has A Context ** ** Model created by PNNL Any change exists in the context of a complex network of structures: Electric Industry Regulatory ICT Control Coordination Other convergent networks Architecture principle: Be cognizant of the global system when optimizing subsystems. 3

Grid Complexity Medium Complexity High Complexity Ultra-Large Scale Complexity Low Complexity Decentralized data, development, and control Inherently conflicting diverse requirements Continuous (or at least long time scale) evolution and deployment Heterogeneous, inconsistent, and changing elements Geographic distribution Wide time scales “Normal” failures 4

Grid Architecture Helps Manage Complexity A system architecture is the conceptual model that defines the components, structure, behavior, qualities, properties, and essential limits of a system An architecture description is a formal representation of a system, organized in a way that supports reasoning about the structures and behaviors of the system Diagrams Specifications Models Simulations Analyses Reports 5 Architecture An abstract depiction of a system, consisting of black box components, structure, and externally visible properties Purposes of architecture:  Manage system complexity  Communication among stakeholders (internal and external)  Manifest earliest design decisions/constraints  Enable (or inhibit) a system’s possible capabilities  Identify gaps in theory or technology  Enable prediction of system qualities

Elements of System Architecture Abstract components and external characteristics –The individual parts, viewed as “black boxes” –But thoroughly grounded in reality (no “magic” boxes) Structures –The overall shape of the system and how components interact –Any complex system has multiple structures, requiring multiple views –No real system architecture can be represented in a single diagram 6

Synthesis of Qualities and Properties System Qualities represent the consumer viewpoint (users of the system) System Properties represent the provider viewpoint (developers and operators of the system) 7

Connection to Policy and Business Goals Key grid properties are tied to business, regulatory, and public policy requirements and goals It is important to define them in a way that allows specification of quantitative goals that can be measured Source: De Martini & Kristov, Distribution Systems in a High Distributed Energy Resources Future: Planning, Market Design, Operation and Oversight 8

How Do We Deal With Complexity? 9 Build a View of Past or Existing System Build Up Full Complexity Forward Model Incrementally Identify Issue Simplify Model to Focus on Key Issue Extract Insight, Decide Approach Resolve Systemic Implications Issue Resolved Rebuild Full Complexity Forward Model

Consider Modifying Structure(s) 10 TSO/BA TransCo Merchant Gen Cust Sites Merchant DER DSO Microgrids TransCo Merchant Gen Cust Sites Merchant DER DistCo Microgrids TSO/BA

Sensing and Measurement Structure 11 Siloed, coupled apps Long latency Poor flexibility Expensive integration Independent apps Low latency High flexibility Low cost integration Better business cases

Conclusions Grid Architecture helps manage the complexity of grid modernization – Provides stakeholder insights that enable superior decision making Getting the architecture right is a key element of getting modernization right Grid Architecture goes hand-in-hand with business and operational planning 12

Thank You Jeffrey D. Taft, PhD