Overview
The Smart Grid International Research Facility Network (SIRFN) is a network of smart grid researchers with test-bed facilities in countries participating in the Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Programme on Smart Grids (ISGAN).
ISGAN-SIRFN’s collaborative testing and evaluation capabilities are meant to be leveraged by the international community to enable improved design, implementation, and testing of smart grids and their functionalities, including the reliable integration of clean energy technologies.
The work is carried out by a global network of experts and is managed in four Focus Areas:
Focus Area 1: Development of Interoperable DER Certification Protocols
Lead: Nayeem Ninad (CanmetENERGY)
Status: Active
Design and advanced testbed (SunSpec System Validation Platform) for automated DER function testing based on national/international testing standards.
Focus Area 2: Microgrid Testing
Lead: Terence O’Donnell (University College of Dublin)
Status: Active
Identify, execute and recommend new innovative microgrid requirement/function to propose, test and evaluate methods for on-grid and off-grid operation.
Focus Area 3: Power System Testing
Lead: Kai Heussen (Technical University of Denmark)
Status: Active
Identify multi-domain power system test cases for holistic and replicable system test procedure development. Make recommendations and benchmark system case study proposals.
Focus Area 4: Advanced Laboratory Testing Methods
Lead: Mazher Syed (University of Strathclyde)
Status: Kicked-Off
Enhance of advanced and field-test close DER function testing for surpassing testbed limitation and generating System-to-Device dependencies in a laboratory-based and replicable environment.
Collaborating Networks
ISGAN Annex 5: SIRFN is actively collaborating with the following networks:
| DERlab e.V. | EERA JP Smart Grids | SunSpec Alliance | IEEE |
Achievements
Results are disseminated at different strategic levels, with some recent publications including:
