Agile grid forming control for compensating collocated extreme load variability
An agile grid forming control system for power electronics converters integrates a dual-time scale control strategy to provide grid-forming operation while compensating for extreme power demand variations. A high-speed digital processor collects real-time electrical measurements at a point of interconnection and dynamically adjusts power output to stabilize grid conditions. The system is particularly suited for AI data centers, microgrids, and other applications with high-variability loads. The system enhances grid stability, enables efficient energy storage integration, and reduces reliance on bulk grid infrastructure.
1 . A method for controlling a grid-interactive power electronics converter, the method comprising:
collecting, by a dispatch controller, real-time electrical measurements at a point of interconnection (POI) or a terminal of a variable load;
generating, by the dispatch controller, based on the real-time electrical measurements, a forecast of energy demand for the variable load;
generating, by the dispatch controller, dispatch limits for the power electronics converter at a first dispatch frequency based on the forecast of energy demand for the variable load;
generating, by the dispatch controller, dispatch controls for the power electronics converter at a second dispatch frequency based on the dispatch limits and the real-time electrical measurements, wherein the second dispatch frequency is greater than the first dispatch frequency;
controlling, by the dispatch controller, the power electronics converter using the dispatch controls; and
adjusting, by the dispatch controller, power output of the power electronics converter from one to hundreds of milliseconds to compensate for load variability comprising power fluctuations ranging from 20% to 100% of peak load.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the dispatch controls includes:
generating, by the dispatch controller, electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements wherein the dispatch controls include the electrical reference quantities.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the dispatch controls includes:
generating, by the dispatch controller, electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements, wherein the dispatch controls are generated based on the dispatch limits and the electrical reference quantities.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the dispatch controls includes:
generating, by the dispatch controller, electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements by:
generating a forming current reference using grid-forming control;
combining the forming current reference with a load-compensating current reference to form a total current reference; and
generating a total output current by modifying the total current reference using a scaling factor calculated using the dispatch limits.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power electronics converter is coupled to an energy storage system (ESS), and wherein the dispatch limits allow the ESS to provide ancillary services to a utility grid.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable load exhibits power fluctuations in the millisecond range.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first dispatch frequency is less than or equal to once every hundred milliseconds, and wherein the second dispatch frequency is greater than or equal to once every ten milliseconds.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the power electronics converter in isolation from a utility grid.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable load comprises a data center configured for artificial intelligence applications.
10 . A control system for grid-interactive power electronics converters, comprising:
a power electronics converter configured to interface with an energy storage system (ESS); and
a dispatch controller configured to:
collect real-time electrical measurements at a point of interconnection (POI);
generate, based on the real-time electrical measurements, a forecast of energy demand for a variable load;
generate dispatch limits for the power electronics converter at a first dispatch frequency based on the forecast of energy demand for the variable load;
collect real-time electrical measurements at the POI or a terminal of a variable load;
generate dispatch controls for the power electronics converter at a second dispatch frequency based on the dispatch limits and the real-time electrical measurements, wherein the second dispatch frequency is greater than the first dispatch frequency;
control the power electronics converter using the dispatch controls; and
adjust power output of the power electronics converter from one to hundreds of milliseconds to compensate for load variability comprising power fluctuations ranging from 20% to 100% of peak load.
11 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the dispatch controller is configured to generate the dispatch controls by:
generating electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements, wherein the dispatch controls include the electrical reference quantities.
12 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the dispatch controller is configured to generate the dispatch controls by:
generating electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements, wherein the dispatch controls are generated based on the dispatch limits and the electrical reference quantities.
13 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the dispatch controller is configured to generate the dispatch controls by:
generating electrical reference quantities based on the real-time electrical measurements by:
generating a forming current reference using grid-forming control;
combining the forming current reference with a load-compensating current reference to form a total current reference; and
generating a total output current by modifying the total current reference using a scaling factor calculated using the dispatch limits.
14 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the dispatch limits allow the ESS to provide ancillary services to a utility grid.
15 . The control system of claim 14 , wherein the first dispatch frequency is less than or equal to once every hundred milliseconds, and wherein the second dispatch frequency is greater than or equal to once every ten milliseconds.
16 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the variable load exhibits power fluctuations in the millisecond range.
17 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the variable load is configured to be disconnected from a utility grid.
18 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the variable load comprises a data center configured for artificial intelligence applications.