Holonic Multi - agent Control of Power Distribution Systems of the Future

A power distribution system (PDS) of the future will have homes with smart meters to monitor energy consumption, on-site grid-connected solar or wind generation, battery storage, and plug-in vehicles. The feeders will have advanced power electronic switching devices to control the system, sensors at strategic locations to measure flow of real and reactive power, voltage and current. The current level of automation in distribution systems in not adequate to handle the dynamics created due integration of a large number of these devices. In this paper, we present a Holonic Multi-agent System Architecture capable of adaptively controlling future electrical power distribution systems. The goal is to produce a general, extensible, and secure cyber architecture based on holonic multi-agent principles to support adaptive PDS. It will produce new analytical insights to quantify the impact of information delay, quality and flow on the design and analysis of the PDS. The architecture will be capable of optimizing performance and maintaining the system within operating limits during normal and minor events, such as cloud cover that reduces solar panel output. The architecture will also allow the operation of a distribution system as an island in emergencies, such as hurricanes/earthquakes, grid failures, or terrorist acts.