Lab design and implementation of MAS-based active network

The introduction of distributed generation (DG) in ever increasing amounts into the existing electrical infrastructure challenges network operators in the way they manage the network. These DGs are often controllable but far from the present day control rooms. With the amount of generators increasing very fast, so will the number of sensors and actuators, growing to numbers way too large to handle in a single control room by human intervention. As the networks are changing from passive to active, more and more the need for automation arises. To accommodate this need the network can be divided into cells of which the borders are created naturally at places where the power flow over that border can be controlled. The cells are capable of managing tasks like protection, voltage and power control autonomously. If more power is needed they can exchange this with neighboring cells and in the worse case they can be completely decoupled from neighboring cells to ensure stability or to be operated in island mode.