Microgrids: Key Operational Strategies and Avenues for Grid Support Services (E-book)

The electric power grid transformation is necessary to make it smarter and more resilient using cutting-edge technologies. Smart grid technologies are being implemented in developed as well as developing countries and various smart grid components are being adopted in to their electrical power systems. The development of Microgrids as a novel distribution network architecture could facilitate the smart grid, which is conceived to improve the instantaneous power balance and demand response. Microgrids will help deploying large amounts of renewable energy sources to improve the reliability and resilience of the main utility grid, if their ostensible benefits offset the costs compared to alternative smart grid architypes. Microgrid consists of distributed generation units, loads, energy storage elements, protection equipment and control scheme to ensure the regulation of the power flow, and voltage and frequency profiles within a defined region as well as energy exchange with the main utility grid.

This monograph is based on extensive research work carried out by the Indo-Australian joint research project team. The domain of the monograph is designed to connect few important aspects of Microgrid operational challenges with grid support service opprotunities for Microgrids. Major content of this monograph is reworked from the published literature of project research team members. This monograph will inspire collaboration and catalyse meaningful advancements, both in research and practice, to achieve our sustainability goals.

The evolution of Microgrid concept is presented in chapter 1 along with its detailed classification, design aspects and associated technologies. Chapter 2 includes major control approaches for instantaneous power management and long-term energy management along with multi-microgrid coordination approach. Chapter 3 presents operational challenges and proposed methodologies for four possible operating states of a Microgrid, beginning with grid-connected operation, transitioning through islanding, stand-alone operation, and finally synchronization for reconnection to the main grid. Chapter 4, focuses on grid support services provided by microgrids, including dynamic operating envelope-based operation, demand response, peer-to-peer energy trading, and ancillary services such as frequency and voltage support, as well as resilient microgrid operation. Finally, Chapter 5, concludes the monograph with discission on some of the critical future prospects of Microgrid research.