What is Microgrid?

Microgrid is a group of distributed energy resources, flexible loads and storage devices
that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A Microgrid can connect and
disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode.
Objectives of Microgrid:
 Facilitate the penetration of distributed generation (DG) to the power distribution network at
low or medium voltage
 Provide high quality and reliable energy supply to critical loads.
 Increasing efficiency by heat recovery (CHP)
The implementation of control is the key feature that distinguishes microgrids from distribution networks with
distributed generation
How Microgrid is Different From
Conventional Grid?
 Power generated at distribution voltage level and can thus be directly provided to the utility’s
distribution system.
 They are of much smaller capacity with respect to the large generators in conventional power
plants.
 They are usually installed closer to the customers’ locations so that the electric/heat loads can be
efficiently served.
 They are ideal for providing electric power to remote locations.
 The fundamental advantage of microgrids to a power grid is that they can be treated as a controlled
entity within the power system.
 The User can receive uninterruptable power, reduced feeder losses, improved local reliability, and
local voltage support.
 The fundamental advantage to the environment is that they reduce environmental pollution and
global warming by utilizing low-carbon technology.
Application of Microgrid
Some candidates of Microgrids are:
 Small remote community
 University / Institution campus
 Hospital
 Commercial area
 Industrial cite
 Military Base
 Data center
What is NOT a Microgrid ?
Need for Hybrid Microgrid

 Intermittent nature of Renewable energy system eg: Solar & Wind profile.
 Hybrid power systems may contain controlled and uncontrolled energy sources along
with energy storage elements and additional control systems.
 Stand-alone hybrid power systems take advantage of the complementary profiles of the
Renewable energy sources.
 Hybrid power systems ensure continuous and reliable power production
Hybrid Microgrid

Possible Hybrid Microgrid may contain:

 Wind/PV/FC/electrolyzer/battery ■ Wind/FC system
 Micro-turbine/FC system
■ Wind/diesel system
 Microturbine/wind system
■ Wind/PV/battery system
 Gas-turbine/FC system
 Diesel/FC system ■ PV/diesel system
 PV/battery ■ Diesel/wind/PV system
 PV/FC/electrolyzer ■ PV/FC/ Super-conducting Magnetic
 PV/FC/electrolyzer/battery system Energy Storage (SMES) system
A Microgrid may look like
 Microsources have plug and play features and they are provided with power electronic interfaces
(PEI) to control, metering and protection purpose.
 Microsources are connected to feeder through microsources controller (MC)
 The Microgrid is connected to the main grid through a circuit breaker called point of common
coupling (PCC).
 The operation and managements of Microgrid is controlled and coordinated through MCs and
Central controller CC.
 The function of MCs are as follow:
 Independently controls the power flow of the microsources and load end voltage profile.
 Participation in economic generation scheduling, load tracking and demand side management.
 MCs will not interact independently with other MCs in Microgrid.
 MC may override the CC directives that seems dangerous for its microsource.
 CC executes the overall control of Microgrid operation and protection through MC.
 CC has two main functional module called Energy Management Module (EMM) and Protection
Coordination Module (PCM).
 EMM takes care of the following:
 To ensure that Microgrid is operating as per the operational a priori contracts with main grid.
(power exchange and other)
 Provide power dispatch (P and Q), frequency and voltage set point for all MC
 To ensure highest efficiency and energy optimization of Microgrid
 To ensure minimization of emission of carbon footprint.
 PCM responds to Microgrid and main grid faults and loss of grid situations in a way so as to ensure
correct protection coordination of Microgrid. It also adapts to the change in fault current levels
during changeover from grid connected to standalone mode.
Impact of Microgrid
 Impact on heat utilization
 Impact on process optimization
 Impact on market
 Impact on environment
 Impact on distribution system
 Impact on communication standards and protocols
Impact of Microgrid on Heat Utilization
 In conventional power stations, around 70% of the energy content of fossil fuels is lost in the power
plant itself as waste heat; this heat is mainly released into the atmosphere, resulting in gradual global
warming.
 Use of CHP Microgrid improves the efficiency (by reducing waste heat loss and T & D loss).
 Waste heat may be utilized in room air heaters, heat recovery steam generators, dehumidifiers,
absorption chillers, hot water heaters and TES (Thermal Energy Storage like chilled water, ice,
eutectic salt, concrete or stone) systems.
 Studies show that CHP systems can bring about almost 30% improvement in energy efficiency.
 From business point of view, it is a good option for businessman to sell waste heat.
Impact of Microgrid on Process
Optimization
 Power quality: Power quality is of paramount importance. Most of the electronic loads are
vulnerable to transients, voltage sags, harmonics, momentary interruptions, etc. These are
termed power quality or PQ-sensitive loads.
It is quite difficult for utility grid to take care of the special power quality needs of a
particular customer. Microgrids may be employed to control the power quality locally according
to customers’ requirements even on an hourly basis.
 Power cost considerations: Microgrids play a significant role in reducing system expansion
costs of the main power utility by deferring the immediate requirement of enhancing its
transmission capacity of existing lines and/or of setting up new transmission lines.
Microgrids help to reduce the stress on transmission grid by sharing its loads.
Microgrids may prove to be a potential solution for reducing transmission line overloads and
congestion.
Impact of Microgrid on Market
As Microgrid provides enormous advantages (Ancillary services), the energy market
must come forward with strong financial incentives for both Microgrid owners. However,
financial incentives can only be provided if there is a market for the ancillary services that the
Microgrid may provide to the power utility.
Their prices should vary to reflect the existing system conditions. That means when
the system becomes stressed, the price should go up and vice versa. Therefore, the market price
would be the primary factor in controlling the energy generation while other technical factors
would be of secondary importance.
Impact of Microgrid on Environment

 Micro-CHP systems and other low-carbon generators can effectively reduce emissions and
environmental warming.
 CC can be programmed to make operational decisions based on the lowest net emission
production, considering both displaced emissions and local emission from microsources. But in
this case the decision-making algorithms more complex.
 Impact of Microgrid on Distribution
System
One of the most promising aspects of Microgrid is their ability to provide ancillary
services to enhance reliability of the existing distribution system. Microgrid can provide the
following ancillary services:
 Reactive power and voltage Control:
 Traditionally, capacitor bank and voltage regulator are used in regulating voltage of the
distribution system. But reactive power from capacitor drops as square of voltage, which
may leads to voltage collapse.
 Microgrid can perform smooth voltage regulation in locally in a economic way.
 Local supply of real and reactive power from Microgrid reduces feeder losses.
 If Microgrid provides the service, it would help the generating station to generate at their
maximum capacity, for generating real power only, thus enhancing overall generation.
 Supply of Reserve:
 Microgrids can provide Frequency Responsive Spinning Reserve because of their faster
response to system frequency deviation. Typically within10 sec.
 Microgrid can provide Supplemental reserve at the system operators requests. Typically
within10 min.
 Microgrid can provide Backup Supply according to some prior arrangement. Typically
within 10 min.
 Regulation and Load following:
 AGC are connected to generators, which adjusts output power minute-by-minute so as to
maintain the frequency with in the control area. This is called Regulation. Microgrid can
provide this service efficiently as microsources are located close to loads.
 Load following is the capability of on line generator to track customer load variation over a
longer time.
 System Black Start is the capability of a power system to restart its generation after a total
system collapse, without importing any external power. Stand alone Microgrids can easily sell
power for system black start.
 Microgrid can also sell the ancillary service of Network Stability. Microgrid can sense low
frequency oscillations and provide adequate damping. This may be achieved by making the
microsources supply power at 180 degree out of phase from the oscillation.
Apart from the above positive impacts of Microgrid on distribution system, utility, regulator
and system operator are hesitant to allow autonomous operation of Microgrid because of their
protection co-ordination issue. The various impact of Microgrid connection on existing utility
network protection are increase or decrease of fault level, false tripping of feeders, nuisance tripping of protective
device, blinding of protection, unwanted islanding etc.
Impact of Microgrid on communication standards
and protocols
 Well-structured and universally compatible communication procedures are required for co-
ordinating Microgrid operation in stand-alone and grid-connected modes.
 But, it is quite challenging to develop a common communication infrastructure for various
applications .(Gen, Storage, Heat requirement etc.).
 Hence, a translation service for different communication methods is required. The device that
executes the translations is called a gateway. The main function of the gateway is to provide necessary
connectivity amongst devices by message translating, formatting, routing and signalling functions.
Technical and Economical Advantages of
Microgrid
 Sustainability: Microgrid/ DG would have much lesser environmental impact than the large
conventional power stations.
 Reduction of physical distance between source and load can contribute to:
 Improvement of reactive support to the whole system, hence enhancing the voltage profile.
 Reduced T & D loss and congestion.
 Reduction of investment in expansion of Transmission & Gen system.
 Combined electricity and heat generation
 Improvement of power quality and reliability is achieved due to:
 Decentralization of supply
 High Reliability
 Better match of supply and demand
 Reduction of the impact of large scale transmission and generation outage.
 Cost Saving:
 Peak Shaving – At peak time electricity generation involves higher costs. Low cost resource DG
can be used. This reduces the capacity ( hence, cost) of TL and Transformer
 Load shifting and supply management with demand response
 A significant cost Saving comes from utilization of waste heat in CHP mode.
 Market participation:
 The Microgrid may be used to provide ancillary services.
 Widespread application of modular plug and play microsources may contribute to a reduction
in energy price in power market.
Challenges and Disadvantages of
Microgrid/DG
 High cost of distributed energy resources.
 Lack of technical experience in controlling a large number of plug and play microsources.
 Specific telecommunication infrastructure and communication protocols must be developed in
this area. Currently there is IEC 61850
 Matured standards are not available for addressing operation and protection issues.(IEEE 1547
should be reassessed)
 Islanding Issue
 Hazardous to utility sector and associated problem in re-synchronizing
 According to IEEE 1547 islanding event must be detected within 2 seconds
 Power Quality Issue
 For grid connected wind & Photo voltaic (PV) generation resources, signal at Point Of
Common Coupling(PCC) is influenced by:
1. Stochastic variation in wind speed and solar insolation
2. Control algorithm
3. Integration of power electronics converters (IEC 61400-3-7, IEC 61400-21)
 Protection issues
 Significant change when they are switched from grid connected islanded mode
 Integration of power electronics converters
 Bidirectional power flow
 Intermittent characteristics of DGs
 false/sympathetic tripping, Recloser-fuse mis-coordination, fuse-fuse mis-coordination and
failed auto-reclosing
 Increasing the Short-Circuit Current
 Market monopoly. Price will be high during grid contingencies.
Connection of The DG to the Grid
 Direct Connection
 Via Synchronous Gen
 Synchronization and controlling the excitation of the generator
create difficulties.
 Ability to Produce Reactive Power
 Via Induction Generator
 Simple control
 Can Not Produce Reactive Power.
 Possibility of Running as a Motor
 Indirect Connection (Via Power Electronic Converters)