Architecture, Control, and Implementation of Networked Microgrids for Future Distribution Systems

Microgrid (MG) is a small-scale, self-sufficient power system that accommodates various distributed energy resources (DERs), controllable loads, and future distribution systems. Networked microgrids (NMGs) are clusters of MGs, which are physically interconnected and functionally coordinated to enhance distribution systems in terms of economics, resilience, and reliability. This paper introduces the architecture and control of NMGs including nanogrid (NG) and MG. To accommodate variable DERs in NMGs, master and distributed control strategies are adopted to manage the high penetration of DERs, where master control focuses on economic operation, while distributed control focuses on reliability and resilience through active power sharing and voltage and frequency regulation. The initial practices of NG, MG, and NMG in the networked Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) campus microgrid (ICM) and Bronzeville community microgrid (BCM) in the U.S. are presented. The applications of the master and distributed control strategies are illustrated for the networked ICM-BCM to show their benefits to economics, resilience, and reliability.