An Overview on Design and Control Schemes of Microgrid

Generation of electricity using renewable energy sources helps in meeting the increased energy demand and also in protecting the environment from global warming and pollution as compared to energy generation using conventional energy sources. Microgrid plays a crucial role in integrating distributed generation with the utility grid. Microgrid can be viewed as a group of energy sources which are distributed across the consumers’ area, capable of connecting itself to the utility grid supplying power to the locality. This microgrid can work in either of the two modes: grid connected mode – where it is connected to the grid and supplies power to the load or islanded mode- where it is disconnected from the grid, and has to act independently. With invent in conversion technologies, microgrid uses more of renewable sources (PV, wind turbine, fuel cell etc.) as Distributed Generation (DG) units compared to conventional units like diesel and gas engines. It further requires energy storage units, usually batteries and super capacitors to store the energy since the renewable energy sources are intermittent in nature. The control of energy generation using these sources as well as coordination of these units with the entire system plays a crucial role in maintaining stability and reliable power supply. This paper presents the fundamentals of microgrid, types of microgrid and control schemes of a microgrid.