Microgrid Formation and Service Restoration in Distribution Systems: a Review

Due to increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, microgrids with the self-adequacy feature becomes a promising platform in distribution systems to interconnect geographically closed distributed generation (DG) units and load, which enables faster service restoration during disturbances and natural disasters, and offers improved system reliability. In this paper, an extensive literature review is conducted for optimal planning of microgrids during system planning stage, and microgrid formation during system operation stage in active distribution systems to achieve improved system performance and enhanced service restoration. In addition, the soft open point as an emerging power electronic device in distribution systems by connecting feeders or networked microgrids is reviewed, which can be used in system restoration. The future research directions in these important areas are recommended in the paper.