Transactive control: a framework for operating power systems characterized by high penetration of distributed energy resources

TLDR

The growing penetration of distributed energy resources creates grid congestion, voltage deviations, and increased balancing demands, prompting the need for innovative control approaches. This paper aims to introduce transactive control, review its literature and demonstrations, and outline future research for applying it to high‑penetration power systems. The authors present a transactive control framework through case studies and demonstrations that illustrate its decentralized decision‑making and transparent operation.

Abstract

The increasing number of distributed energy resources connected to power systems raises operational challenges for the network operator, such as introducing grid congestion and voltage deviations in the distribution network level, as well as increasing balancing needs at the whole system level. Control and coordination of a large number of distributed energy assets requires innovative approaches. Transactive control has received much attention due to its decentralized decision-making and transparent characteristics. This paper introduces the concept and main features of transactive control, followed by a literature review and demonstration projects that apply to transactive control. Cases are then presented to illustrate the transactive control framework. At the end, discussions and research directions are presented, for applying transactive control to operating power systems, characterized by a high penetration of distributed energy resources.