Testing facility for research and development of Smart-MicroGrid technologies

This paper discusses design methodologies for implementing Smart-MicroGrid testing facility. A Smart- MicroGrid testing facility provides a test-bench environment to develop and analyse new technologies, topologies and control systems for MicroGrid and SmartGrid architectures. These different systems can be analysed with varying levels and types of communication, control, energy storage, distributed generation and mode settings. By testing numerous types of MicroGrid system structures, inferences can be made regarding the optimal design of a Smart-MicroGrid. A MicroGrid testing facility was created as part of the Queensland Government's Peak Demand Energy Management Project. Initial design results for the first set of test systems are presented in the paper. The encouraging results of the initial testing facility design outline the need for such a testing system for future advanced development and implementation of a Smart-MicroGrid. Further expansion of the testing facility with larger energy storage, generation supply and a diversification of loads is the next phase enabling testing of the interconnection methods between MicroGrids.