DERConnect features a diverse set of assets that can all be interconnected to create a wholistic approach to testing. At its core, the testbed has a highly flexible power system laboratory where real power systems can be tested. Real-time simulators can operate alongside these power systems via our grid emulator / amplifier, which effectively connects the digital and real worlds together. Software now drives modern technology and the testbed hosts over 2,000 edge computing nodes that can control simulated and real equipment. All tests are facilitated using the DERConnect DERMS platform to allow for test management and the rapid deployment of algorithms.

The power systems laboratory of DERConnect includes fives lithium-ion batteries (total 0.5 MW, 1MWh), an ultracapacitor, programmable load bank, and grid emulator which connects to our simulators.

Two real-time simulators are available, RTDS and Typhoon HIL. The simulators are capable of network and DER modeling as well as controller and power hardware in the loop testing.

There are over 2,000 edge computing nodes of varying performance. These nodes act as edge controllers and can be utilized in a variety of roles from device controllers, to system aggregators, and machine learning/AI computing nodes. Code can be easily deployed to the fleet through our DERMS platform. The communication topology of the nodes can also be configured.

Minsait ACS developed a custom testing platform for DERConnect based on their Onesait Platform, IoTHub, and DERMS products. The testing platform provides users with an environment for facilitating tests, running analytics, and utilizing DERMS tools such as FLISR, hosting capacity, and load flexibility calculators.

The testbed includes real devices throughout the UCSD campus.