Microgrids — an integration of renewable energy technologies

Microgrids may be a prospective power system that addresses the renewable energy technologies (RET) accompanying necessary growing deployment of distributed energy resources (DER), especially small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) and small-scale renewable energy sources (RES). This article introduces the RET expected to be applied in the microgrids system depending on the RES. The RET include: microturbines, fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, solar thermal arrays, and wind turbines installations, also, the storage, load control, power and voltage regulation and heat recovery units need to be grouped together into microgrids. Furthermore, several installations engaged in active experiments in the microgrid area around the world are introduced. The microgrids can meet the cost, efficiency, and environmental benefits; and the demanding requirements for security, quality, reliability, and availability (SQRA) benefits of on-site generation, achieved by incorporating modern controls and operating with a degree of autonomy. Market acceptability of DER technologies and the gradual and consistent increase in their depth of penetration have generated significant interest in integration, controls, and optimal operation of DER units in the context of microgrids. The development of the microgrid based on the distributed generation together with the opportunities offered by renewables, could have a major effect on the way rural electrification is approached, not only in electrified countries but also in developing countries.