GridMat: Matlab toolbox for GridLAB-D to analyze grid impact and validate residential microgrid level energy management algorithms

Residential microgrid has the capability to participate in the distribution grid as a very flexible and dynamic component for demand side energy management (energy efficiency, peak-load reduction, and demand response). Various hierarchical (appliance, home, and neighborhood level) advanced control algorithms need to be developed and validated for such residential microgrids. GridLAB-D is the most promising tool for power system modeling of a microgrid. However, it is limited in supporting advanced control algorithm development with debugging support and does not provide a user friendly interface for modeling the structural and behavioral aspects of a residential microgrid. Therefore, in this paper, we present a new Matlab toolbox (GridMat) to integrate the capabilities of domain-specific modeling & simulation tools from power system (GridLAB-D) and control (Matlab). The GridMat tool supports user friendly model creation, robust debugging, and intelligent grid impact analysis utilities. To demonstrate the capability of GridMat, we have implemented three different levels of energy management controllers (including direct load control) for a residential microgrid using this tool to reduce and shift peak load according to Time-Of-Use (TOU) electricity rate.