A Comprehensive Review on Microgrid Protection: Issues and Challenges

The microgrid is becoming a vital component in designing the future grid that inherits many characteristics of the smart grid like self healing ability, real-time monitoring, smart sensing and measurements, advanced communication networks, low-voltage-ride-through (LVRT) capability of Distribution Generation Resources (DGRs), and high penetration of DGs. These substantial changes in properties and capabilities of the future grid result in significant protection challenges such as bidirectional fault current, various levels of fault current under different operating conditions, necessity of standards for automation system, cyber security issues, as well as, designing an appropriate grounding system, fast fault detection/location method, the need for an efficient circuit breaker for DC microgrids. Because of these new challenges, the conventional protection strategies need to be updated by adaptive and intelligent methodology. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the different techniques proposed by various researcher's possible solution to address the protection issues in microgrids.