Real-Time Closed-Loop Cloud Architecture for Operation and Control of Aggregated DERs

The increasing penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) presents both opportunities and challenges for modern power systems. Although DERs improve grid reliability and flexibility, their decentralized nature limits direct control by system operators. Aggregators serve as intermediaries but face difficulties in managing a large number of DERs. This paper proposes a cloud-based scalable control platform designed to support aggregators in monitoring, controlling, and optimizing DER operations. The platform leverages cloud computing to provide real-time data access, remote control, and decision-making capabilities. A real-time closed-loop communication framework is established between the Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud using TCP/IP, MQTT, and AWS Lambda, with Python-based middleware facilitating dynamic interaction. This architecture enables bidirectional control and continuous evaluation of DER flexibility, reliability, and production, while also tracking real-time electricity prices to maximize aggregator profit. The framework is validated on a modified IEEE 13-Bus distribution system, where the cloud-based logic effectively stabilizes power disturbances by optimally allocating power setpoints to DERs. In addition, the architecture incorporates a network simulation layer, placing the framework for future robustness evaluation under realistic communication conditions involving latency, jitter, and packet loss. The results confirm the efficiency and scalability of the model, highlighting its potential to enable future grid resilience through cloud-hosted secondary control.

 

 

KEYWORDS: cloud computing, distributed energy resources, distribution systems, real-time operation, amazon web services