University Microgrid Testbeds: A Literature Survey

Microgrid technology has been one of the main research topics in the recent energy industry. An interesting research direction is the microgrid application for universities, as there has been an emphasis on sustainability and renewable energy on university campuses everywhere. Many universities have developed microgrid testbeds (MGTB) to meet their research and educational requirements. This paper surveys some representative university MGTB examples in the U.S. and worldwide. The three main types of the university MGTB: simulation-based, hardware-in-the-loop(HIL)-based, and physical testbeds, are first illustrated. Then the relevant information on the three MGTB types, including the most adopted MGTB software simulation platforms, the microgrid control levels and functions, and associated monitoring and measurement aspects along with real-world university examples, are summarized. This work intends to provide a general reference for universities interested in designing and implementing their campus microgrid testbeds.