Dynamic Microgrids-Based Blackstart Application for Real Utility Feeders Considering Demand Flexibility

The integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and the increasing frequency of extreme events in the power grid necessitate the development of innovative blackstart strategies to restore utility feeders. This study applies our dynamic microgrids-based (MGs-based) blackstart framework to investigate the restoration of two real utility feeders in the USA. First, we introduce our blackstart framework. We then provide detailed descriptions of the two utility feeders, whose models were converted from WindMil to OpenDSS, and subsequently to Python test feeder models. Using these feeder models, we study the performance of the blackstart framework in three scenarios: (a) base PV level, (b) 0% to 100% PV penetration levels, and (c) considering demand flexibility. A comparative analysis of these three cases is conducted, focusing on restoration metrics such as total restoration time and total customer hours restored.