Smart Inverter Droop Setting to Solve Voltage Issues in Distribution Networks (Smart-Droop)

This report details the results and experiences of the project titled Smart Inverter Droop Setting
 to Solve Voltage Issues in Distribution Networks (Smart-Droop)”, conducted under the ERIGrid
 2.0. Smart-Droop project focused on improving the voltage regulation performance of the elec
trical power distribution networks by utilizing the Volt-VAr and Volt-Watt droop curves of the
 Smart Inverters (SIs). The primary objective of the project was to improve voltage performance
 by applying rule-based and optimal power flow (OPF)-based control algorithms.
 During the two-week access period at the DER-TF, the project team including researchers from
 Abdullah Gül University (AGU), Kadir Has University (KHAS) and Marmara University (MU)
 successfully implemented a series of tests, implementing the control techniques to improve the
 voltage performance.
 The team initially dealt with the experimental setup including the microgrid formation with dis
tributed energy resources(DERs) such as photovoltaics (PV), combined heat and power (CHP),
 battery energy storage system (BESS). Then, a secure communication between control room
 and the grid was established over Modbus communication. The test system was simulated
 using Open Source Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS) and the power flow results for
 various cases was compared to the actual measurements from the SCADA system. Then
 the developed rule-based and Optimal Power Flow (OPF) based simulations were conducted.
 Lastly, experiments were carried out by applying rule-based and optimal power flow (OPF)
based management frameworks.
 One of the key achievements of the project was successfully applying model-based droop con
trol in a real-world power grid, which was a major step forward for dynamic voltage regulations.
 For this aim, the research team carefully used an experimental test bed with the guidance from
 RSE experts, whose close collaboration has helped in overcoming complex technical chal
lenges. The ERIGrid 2.0 platform also played a key role, providing the advanced infrastructure
 needed to run realistic, high-precision experiments. This allowed the research team to test and
 validate their ideas in practice, helping move them closer to real-world implementation on a
 larger scale.
 The Smart-Droop project has successfully combined droop control techniques with power flow
 analysis and Optimal Power Flow (OPF) algorithms, leading to major improvements in volt
age regulation capabilities. The results show just how important collaboration, flexible testing
 approaches, and forward-thinking control systems are for today’s power grids. These break
throughs highlight the growing need for smart, responsive control strategies and set a new
 standard for improving grid efficiency in distribution networks with many distributed energy
 sources.