Distributed energy resources communications network and control system

An integrated network and system for distributed communications and control of Distributed Energy Resources (“DER”) on a power utility grid, using a hub and spoke, substation-centric network architecture, with integrated point to point communications and comprising:

• a plurality of edge DER (“E-DERM”) devices, each E-DERM device located at a DER point of interconnection;
• a single substation DER controller (“D-DERM”) located at a utility substation and configured to manage the plurality of E-DERM devices;
• integrated point-to-point secured communications between the D-DERM and each of the plurality of E-DERM devices using dual channel redundant paths;
• closed-loop control software algorithms running autonomously on the D-DERM at the utility substation to monitor and control DER connected to power lines emanating from the utility substation;
• and
• a Distributed Generation Permissive (“DGP”) system using powerline conducted permissive signal technology as shown in FIG. 4, for sending DGP commands over a powerline.