The objective of Smart Grid Testbed Facility Project is to create a unique set of interconnected and interacting labs in several key measurement areas, especially on the NIST Gaithersburg site—that are expected to accelerate the development of SG interoperability standards by providing a combined testbed platform for system measurements, characterization of smart grid protocols, and validation of SG standards, with particular emphasis on microgrids.

Measurements will include eight areas: power conditioning, synchrophasor metrology, cybersecurity, precision time synchronization, electric power metering, modeling/evaluation of SG communications, sensor interfaces, and energy storage.

With a long range goal of being part of a fully functional campus scale microgrid on the NIST Gaithersburg campus, the testbed will serve as a core Smart Grid Program research facility to address measurement needs of the evolving SG industrial community including the measurement and validation issues. With a particular emphasis on DER, microgrids and grid edge devices, the project is to develop “an advanced multi-mode interacting measurement testbed” that leverage cross-OU expertise to facilitate implementation, validation, and full characterization of smart grid interoperability standards and smart grid performance.

The NIST SG Testbed Facility will address the need for accurate measurement and secure communications in the U.S. smart grid, including “enabling NIST to empirically address measurement science challenges relating to smart grid performance and interoperability” and “enhancing NIST’s capability to maintain a leading smart grid experimental research role.”

So far, the SG Testbed Facility expansion construction is complete and the commissioning of the high-power equipment is progressing, continued integration of cross-OU expertise and projects within the facility, and engaging with stakeholders for opportunities for collaboration and coordination compose the next phase.