Concerns over changes to the global environment and the growing need for energy have increased the penetration of renewable energy (RE) generation into low voltage distribution networks. The introduction of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) into distribution networks has been proposed to improve the reliability and performance of power systems. Energy storage systems will also be important in helping to regulate the supply from intermittent RE sources that feed into variable load demand. The focus of this paper is to provide an overview of the state of the art of ESS, concentrating on the distinct characteristics and applications of the different types. The analysis includes comparison and evaluation of different storage preferences with regard to integration of these technologies with an electric grid at the distribution network level that may lead to benefits such as distribution upgrade deferral and improvements in power quality and reliability.

The nonlinear current vs voltage (I-V) characteristics of solar PV make its modelling difficult. Optimization techniques are the best tool for identifying the parameters of nonlinear models. Even though, there are different optimization techniques used for parameter estimation of solar PV, still the best optimized results are not achieved to date. In this paper, Wind Driven Optimization (WDO) technique is proposed as the new method for identifying the parameters of solar PV. The accuracy and convergence time of the proposed method is compared with results of Pattern Search (PS), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Simulated Annealing (SA) for single diode and double diode models of solar PV. Furthermore, for performance validation, the parameters obtained through WDO are compared with hybrid Bee Pollinator Flower Pollination Algorithm (BPFPA), Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), Generalized Oppositional Teaching Learning Based Optimization (GOTLBO), Artificial Bee Swarm Optimization (ABSO), and Harmony Search (HS). The obtained results clearly reveal that WDO algorithm can provide accurate optimized values with less number of iterations at different environmental conditions. Therefore, the WDO can be recommended as the best optimization algorithm for parameter estimation of solar PV.

With a low cost and high volumetric capacity, rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) have emerged as promising candidates for post-lithium ion batteries. The kinetically sluggish Mg 2+ insertion/ extraction in the host lattice and the anode/electrolyte incompatibility render the battery irreversible in some instances and restrict the commercial applications. In this work, we replace the conventional electrolyte with a dual layer of liquid and polymer electrolyte onto the cathode and anode, respectively, and investigate the structural, electrical, and electrochemical properties. It exhibits a remarkable Mg-ion conductivity up to 4.62 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at 55 °C, a high transfer number (t Mg 2+ = 0.74), low overpotential, and relatively stable Mg stripping and plating during the initial cycles. Furthermore, this work uses an unconventional electrode, BaTiO 3 (BTO), to demonstrate the performance of Mg batteries and track the structural and electrochemical changes. The quasi-solid-state Mg batteries fabricated with premagnesiation and thermally treated BTO cathode materials show good electrochemical performance. The approaches herein may provide new directions for exploiting high-performance Mg batteries through the perovskite structure cathode and functional dual electrolyte.

The magnesium–sulfur (MgS) battery is a promising alternative to the post-lithium battery because of its low-cost construction, eco-friendliness, high theoretical energy density, and safety. However, the lack of simple compatible electrolytes, self-discharge, polysulfide shuttle effect, and the slow conversion reaction pathway still limit its practical applications. Here, we propose a simple halogen-free electrolyte (HFE) based on Mg­(NO3)2 dissolved in the cosolvent of acetonitrile (ACN) and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl (G4) that applies to a Mg/S full cell. The as-prepared Mg-ion electrolyte exhibits efficient Mg plating/stripping performance, high anodic stability (vs Mg/Mg2+), and a high ionic conductivity of ∼10–4 S cm–1 at 313 K. Chronoamperometry (CA), scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy examinations report that the HFE supports flat, dendrite-free, and translucent Mg deposits. Polymer layer interface (PLI)-based polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and Mg­(O3SCF3)2 have been designed to isolate the surface of the Mg anode from the liquid electrolyte. A sulfur cathode with the anchoring materials of silicon carbide and barium titanate-based material has been designed and characterized. The Mg/S battery has been constructed with an initial discharge capacity of up to 1200 mAh g–1, and it has retained a reversible capacity at 100 mAh g–1 after 10 cycles. This study offers a pivotal role in designing a promising HFE candidate for a high-performance MgS battery.

Low voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution has gained the significant interest of research due to the advancements in power conversion technologies. However, the use of converters has given rise to several technical issues regarding their protections and controls of such devices under faulty conditions. Post-fault behaviour of converter-fed LVDC system involves both active converter control and passive circuit transient of similar time scale, which makes the protection for LVDC distribution significantly different and more challenging than low voltage AC. These protection and operational issues have handicapped the practical applications of DC distribution. This paper presents state-of-the-art protection schemes developed for DC Microgrids. With a close look at practical limitations such as the dependency on modelling accuracy, requirement on communications and so forth, a comprehensive evaluation is carried out on those system approaches in terms of system configurations， fault detection, location, isolation and restoration.