Guest Editorial Special Issue on Structured DC Microgrids

With the development of dc coupled devices, such as photovoltaic generations, batteries, supercapacitors, LEDs, computers, and electronics equipment, low-voltage dc distribution networks, structured dc microgrids are emerging as a natural platform to integrate renewable energy sources. However, there are a number of technical challenges: lack of standardized equipment, inadequate stability, and versatile control design. In the past, the interest of power electronics community was moving from a single power electronics converter to multiple distributed systems that encompass a number of converters connected in either series/parallel, forming a number of dc busses with different voltage levels. Recently, with the advance of new dc power technologies, several ongoing standards, alliances, and initiatives are bringing the possibility of developing future homes, offices, buildings, campuses, datacenters, ships, satellites, aircrafts, and other electrical power systems to operate totally or dominantly in dc. Research is being carried out in both the system and component levels of modeling, control, and stability of structured dc microgrids. New high-efficiency topologies and protections are also key nontrivial issues when developing practical dc microgrids.