Microgrid Emergence, Integration, and Influence on the Future Energy Generation Equilibrium—A Review

Abstract

Microgrids are emerging throughout the world as a means of integrating decentralized, renewable energy power generation. The flexibility of this customer-driven, behind the meter solution allows it to address unique challenges. This variability that drives microgrid adoption is the same thing that keeps them from being categorized and repeatable. This lack of specific modeling leads to a stalling in financing and wide-scale adoption. By analyzing the microgrid system development, evolution, architecture, integration zones, technological advances, and business models, a clearer picture of how these entities are intertwined emerges. Several case studies of deployed microgrids will showcase the cutting-edge solutions they apply. The future implications of this new energy revolution will be highlighted and shown to create an energy generation equilibrium and the significant role played by microgrids in this new energy revolution. Although many compilations of research work on microgrids have been previously presented by various reviewers, most of them are specific to an electrical or power quality-related issue, which addresses a discrete audience. This work only includes within its scope a general outlook of microgrids and the present-day challenges in its use of rural/urban renewable energy production and distribution. The results allowed for the researchers to conclude that microgrids have emerged as a great solution in situations where energy has to be transmitted from a decentralized system to a centralized system. Challenges will arise in the microgrid management and government laws and regulations if rectified microgrids can lead to an equilibrium between decentralized and centralized bulk energy networks.

State-of-the-art review on energy management systems, challenges and top trends of renewable energy based microgrids

“…In general, each micro-network must fulfill the following three conditions: Ability to work in island conditions Microgrids should be identifiable as a distinct subset of the distribution network That it could operate on its own if disconnected from the macrogrid During natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and other events, the central power grid, as one of the critical parts of the infrastructure, becomes unstable and fails. Microgrids can act as a temporary backup source due to the prevention of external hazards and help the central power grid to avoid further hazards and destruction in these conditions [25] .According to Figure 2, in this section, the authors have conducted studies on various control methods, size and type of power supply.…”

Small Signal Modelling and Stability Analysis of a Grid Connected Inverted Based Microgrid

“…Control methods and stability analyses for grid integration of distributed generation units is seen as one of the most accomplished through the use of microgrid (4) . Considering that microgrid has significantly less physical inertia than the main grid, even minor disruptions like variations in the power output from photovoltaic arrays or wind turbines, as well as the connection or disconnection of local loads, can give rise to concerns about power quality and stability (5) .In particular, the frequency and voltage levels within microgrid might experience various that may lead to a decline in the overall stability of the system (6) . Efficient way for integrating distributed energy resources into microgrids with stable control systems are discussed (7) .…”

Smart Python Agents for Microgrids

“…This is due to the intermittent nature of renewable resources and the lack of adequate spinning reserves to accommodate imbalances. When properly operated, microgrids seamlessly integrate renewables and shape the energy landscape [11]. The conventional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) that has inherently been used in utility grids is expensive to customize and deploy in microgrids.…”