A Versatile Microgrid Management Solution for the Emerging Electricity Grid: Catering to the Full Spectrum of Microgrids

Microgrids are finding a prominent role in the emerging electricity landscape characterized by increasing distributed energy resource (DER) penetration and active consumer engagement. They are designed and deployed for different purposes and objectives. While one microgrid may place a lot of emphasis on the quality and availability of the electric power it produces, another may primarily focus on the operation efficiency or environmental benefits. To fulfill different objectives and deliver the benefits they are designed for, appropriate microgrid management systems (MMSs) are needed. This article develops a classification for different microgrids with a comprehensive technology framework for delivering their benefits. It concludes with a number of actual microgrid deployments to illustrate and reinforce the described concepts.