Autonomous regulation of grid edge devices

1. A computer-implemented method for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), the method being implemented in a computer system comprising a non-transient electronic storage and one or more physical computer processors, the computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining, from the non-transient electronic storage, a first setpoint voltage for a GED, wherein the GED is implemented on a secondary side of a distribution line providing electricity for a consumer;

generating, with the one or more physical computer processors, an average VAR value based at least in part on VARs generated by the GED over a first time interval;

generating, with the one or more physical computer processors, an average voltage value based at least in part on voltage received by the GED over the first time interval; and

adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the first setpoint voltage to a second setpoint voltage based at least in part on a difference between the average voltage value and the first setpoint voltage exceeding a voltage threshold value and a comparison between the average VAR value and one or more of: a maximum VAR threshold value or a minimum VAR threshold value.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the GED comprises a sensor measuring an environmental parameter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of: a clock, a temperature sensor, a current sensor, a VAR sensor, or a voltage sensor.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the GED comprises one or more of a photovoltaic, a VAR device, an inverter, or an energy storage device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second setpoint voltage is bounded by a minimum voltage threshold value and a maximum voltage threshold value.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the first setpoint voltage to the second setpoint voltage comprises:

applying, with the one or more physical computer processors, a first equation to determine the second setpoint voltage when the average VAR value is greater than the maximum VAR threshold value, wherein the first equation is defined by

dV

sp

dt

=

-

M

v

⁡

(

V

sp

-

V

wavg

)

where

dV

sp

dt

 represents a rate of change of the first setpoint voltage as a function of time, M v represents a speed of VAR response to the second setpoint voltage, V sp represents the first setpoint voltage, and V wavg represents the average voltage value.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the first setpoint voltage to the second setpoint voltage comprises:

applying, with the one or more physical computer processors, a second equation to determine the second setpoint voltage when the average VAR value is less than the minimum VAR threshold value, wherein the second equation is defined by

dV

sp

dt

=

-

M

v

⁡

(

V

sp

-

b

min

⁢

V

wavg

)

where

dV

sp

dt

 represents a rate of change of the first setpoint voltage as a function of time, M v represents a speed of VAR response to the second setpoint voltage, V sp represents the first setpoint voltage, b min represents a bias term to improve reducing the average VAR value, and V wavg represents the average voltage value.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

based at least in part on a current real power value and a current time, adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the second setpoint voltage to a third setpoint voltage based at least in part on the second setpoint voltage and a setpoint voltage threshold value.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising, when the third setpoint voltage is greater than or equal to about the setpoint voltage threshold value plus a minimum setpoint voltage threshold, adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the third setpoint voltage to a fourth setpoint voltage, based at least in part on the third setpoint voltage and the setpoint voltage threshold value.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising, when the average VAR value is less than the minimum VAR threshold value and the average voltage value is less than the third setpoint voltage, adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the third setpoint voltage to a fourth setpoint voltage, wherein the fourth setpoint voltage is based at least in part on the third setpoint voltage minus half of the setpoint voltage threshold value.

11. A computer-implemented method for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), the method being implemented in a computer system comprising a non-transient electronic storage and one or more physical computer processors, the computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining, from the non-transient electronic storage, a first setpoint voltage for a GED, wherein the GED is implemented on a secondary side of a distribution line providing electricity for a consumer;

generating, with the one or more physical computer processors, an average real power flow value based at least in part on power received by the GED over a time interval;

generating, with the one or more physical computer processors, an average voltage value based at least in part on voltage received by the GED over the time interval; and

adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the first setpoint voltage to a second setpoint voltage based at least in part on a change in real power as compared to a first threshold value and a change in an average VAR value as compared to a second threshold value.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the GED comprises a sensor measuring an environmental parameter.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of: a clock, a temperature sensor, a current sensor, a VAR sensor, or a voltage sensor.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the GED comprises one or more of: a photovoltaic, a VAR device, a unified power flow controller (UPFC) device, an inverter, or an energy storage device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the second setpoint voltage is bounded by an upper threshold based at least in part on a low voltage usage value and a lower threshold based at least in part on a high voltage usage value.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the first setpoint voltage to the second setpoint voltage comprises:

applying, with the one or more physical computer processors, a first equation to determine the second setpoint voltage when the change in real power is positive, wherein the first equation is defined by

V

sp

=

V

avg

+

P

kW

avg

⁢

K

p

+

where V sp represents the second setpoint voltage, V avg represents the average voltage value, P represents a real power flow, kW avg represents an average real power flow, and

K

p

+

=

(

126

-

V

avg

1.25

×

kWmax

)

⁢

kW

avg

.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the first setpoint voltage to the second setpoint voltage comprises:

applying, with the one or more physical computer processors, a second equation to determine the second setpoint voltage when the change in real power is negative, wherein the second equation is defined by

V

sp

=

V

avg

+

P

kW

avg

⁢

K

p

-

where V sp represents the second setpoint voltage, V avg represents the average voltage value, P represents a real power flow, kW avg represents an average real power flow, and

K

p

-

=

(

V

avg

-

114

1.25

×

kWmax

)

⁢

kW

avg

.

18. A computer-implemented method for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), the method being implemented in a computer system comprising a non-transient electronic storage and one or more physical computer processors, the computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining, from the non-transient electronic storage, a first setpoint voltage for a GED;

generating, with the one or more physical computer processors, an average VAR value based at least in part on VARs generated by the GED over a time interval;

adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the first setpoint voltage to a second setpoint voltage based at least in part on at least one of: an average voltage value, an average current value, or an average real power flow value and a comparison between the average VAR value and one or more of: a maximum VAR threshold value or a minimum VAR threshold value; and

adjusting, with the one or more physical computer processors, the second setpoint voltage to a third setpoint voltage based at least in part on a change in the average VAR value.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the GED comprises one or more of: a photovoltaic, a VAR device, a unified power flow controller (UPFC) device, an inverter, or an energy storage device.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein adjusting the first setpoint voltage to the second setpoint voltage comprises applying, with the one or more physical computer processors, a first equation to determine the second setpoint voltage when the average VAR value is greater than the maximum VAR threshold value, wherein the first equation is defined by

dV

sp

dt

=

-

M

v

⁡

(

V

sp

-

V

wavg

)

where

dV

sp

dt

 represents a rate of change of the first setpoint voltage as a function of time, M v represents a speed of VAR response to the second setpoint voltage, V sp represents the first setpoint voltage, and V wavg represents the average voltage value.