Microgrids management

The environmental and economical advantages of the microgrid and its acceptability and degree of proliferation in the utility power industry are principally determined by the envisioned controller capabilities and the operational features. The needed control and operational strategies of a microgrid can be different than those of the conventional power systems, depending on the depth of penetration of distributed energy resources (DER) units and power quality constraints. The reason includes steady-state and dynamic characteristics of DER units, specifically electronically coupled units, are different than those of the conventional large turbine-generator units. Another reason include a microgrid may be needed to offer prespecified power quality levels or preferential services to some loads. Market acceptability of DER technologies and the consistent rise in their depth of penetration have also generated vital interest in integration and controls of DER units in the context of microgrids.