  The flexible, efficient, and reliable operation of grid-interactive efficient
buildings (GEBs) is increasingly impacted by the growing penetration of
distributed energy resources (DERs). Besides, the optimization and control of
DERs, buildings, and distribution networks are further complicated by their
interconnections. In this paper, we exploit load-side flexibility and clean
energy resources to develop a novel two-level hybrid decentralized-centralized
(HDC) algorithm to control DER-connected GEBs. The proposed HDC 1) achieves
scalability w.r.t. to a large number of grid-connected buildings and devices,
2) incorporates a two-level design where aggregators control buildings
centrally and the system operator coordinates the distribution network in a
decentralized fashion, and 3) improves the computing efficiency and enhances
communicating compatibility with heterogeneous temporal scales. Simulations are
conducted based on the prototype of a campus building at the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory to show the efficiency and efficacy of the proposed approach.
