DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND CONTROL SYSTEM

A method and system for a distributed communications and control network that manages Distributed Energy Resources (DER) on a power utility grid. Such a network uses a three-tiered network architecture (FIG. ) named DERCOM comprised of two or three components: E-DERM An edge DER module (required) D-DERM A distributed DER module (required) C-DERM A centralized DER module (optional). The DERCOM network can begin as D-DERM/E-DERM installations (FIG. FIG. ) which can later integrate with an existing or future centralized C-DERM deployment. The E-DERM module being an edge device, physically located at each DER Point of Common Coupling (PCC), provides communications and protocol translations between DER and utility grid over wired or wireless connections. The E-DERM may also be located at utility device locations to control such devices. E-DERM communicates with D-DERM. The D-DERM module being a distributed system controller, physically located at the utility substation and managing multiple DER sites via E-DERM devices, on a circuit and substation aggregate basis. A D-DERM hosts multiple algorithms providing various grid optimization applications. The D-DERM may also manage non-DER utility devices for distribution automation and demand response applications. D-DERM communicates with E-DERM and C-DERM. The C-DERM module being a management software application typically located at a regional utility control center. The C-DERM communicates with one or many D-DERM substation controllers to implement broad overall control strategies. DERCOM provides the four fundamental roles of a DERM system: Aggregate: Aggregates the services of many individual DER and presents them as a smaller, more manageable, number of aggregated virtual resources Simplify: Handles the granular details of DER settings and presents simple grid-related services Optimize: Optimizes the utilization of DER within various groups to get the desired outcome at minimal cost and maximum power quality Translate: Translates individual DER languages, and presents to the upstream calling entity in a cohesive way.