Bhatti, Bilal Ahmad2021-01-082021-01-082021-01-07vt_gsexam:28621http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101788Power systems have evolved significantly during the last two decades with the advent of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) like solar PV. Traditionally, large power plants were considered as the sole source of energy in the power systems. However, DERs connected to the transmission and the distribution systems are creating a paradigm shift from a centralized generation to a distributed one. Though the variable power output from these DERs poses challenges to the reliable operation of the grid, it also presents opportunities to design control and coordination approaches to improve system efficiency and operational reliability. Moreover, building new transmission lines to meet ever-increasing load demand is not always viable. Thus, the industry is leaning towards developing non-wires alternatives. Considering the existing limitations of the transmission system, line congestions, and logistic/economic constraints associated with its capacity expansion, leveraging DERs to supply distribution system loads is attractive and thus capturing the attention of researchers and the electric power industry. The primary objective of this dissertation is to develop a framework that enables DERs to supply local area load by co-simulating the power system and transactive system representations of the network. To realize this objective, a novel distributed optimization and game theory-based network representation is developed that optimally computes the power output of the Home Microgrids/DER aggregators. Moreover, the optimum operational schedules of the DERs within these Home Microgrids/DER aggregators are also computed. The novel electrical-transactive co-simulation ensures that the solution is optimum in the context of power systems i.e. power flow constraints are not violated while the payoffs are maximized for the Home Microgrids/DER aggregators. The transactive mechanism involves two-way iterative signaling. The signaling is modeled as an infinite strategy, multiplayer, non-cooperative game, and a novel theory is developed for the game model. The dissertation also introduces a novel concept of ranking the Home Microgrids/DER aggregators according to their historic performance, thus leading to fairness, higher participation, and transparency. Significant advantages offered by the framework include consumption of local generation, transmission upgrade deferral, mitigation of line congestions in peak periods, and reduced transmission systems losses.ETDIn CopyrightTransactive energyCo-simulationGame TheoryMicrogridsDistributed Energy ResourcesDissertation