Voltage stability of power systems with renewable-energy inverter-based generators: A review

© 2021 by the authors. The main purpose of developing microgrids (MGs) is to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into the power grid. RESs are normally connected to the grid via power electronic inverters. As various types of RESs are increasingly being connected to the electrical power grid, power systems of the near future will have more inverter-based generators (IBGs) instead of synchronous machines. Since IBGs have significant differences in their characteristics compared to synchronous generators (SGs), particularly concerning their inertia and capability to provide reactive power, their impacts on the system dynamics are different compared to SGs. In particular, system stability analysis will require new approaches. As such, research is currently being conducted on the stability of power systems with the inclusion of IBGs. This review article is intended to be a preface to the Special Issue on Voltage Stability of Microgrids in Power Systems. It presents a comprehensive review of the literature on voltage stability of power systems with a relatively high percentage of IBGs in the generation mix of the system. As the research is developing rapidly in this field, it is understood that by the time that this article is published, and further in the future, there will be many more new developments in this area. Certainly, other articles in this special issue will highlight some other important aspects of the voltage stability of microgrids

The New AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid Paradigm: Analysis and Operational Control

AC/DC hybrid microgrids (HMGs) represent a promising architecture that allows the hosting of innovative dc energy resources, such as renewables, and modern dc loads, such as electric vehicles, thereby reducing the number of conversion stages and offering other technical and cost benefits. Such advantages have prompted power distribution planners to begin investigating the possibility of hybridizing existing ac grids and designing new ac/dc hybrid clusters, referred to as microgrids, as a step toward an envisioned smart grid that incorporates multiple ac/dc microgrids characterized by "plug-and-play" features. Despite their potential, when either islanded or interfaced with the main grid, HMGs create challenges with respect to system operation and control, such as difficulties related to precise power sharing, voltage stability during a contingency, the control and management of power transfer through the interlinking converters (ICs), and the coordination of local distributed energy resources (DERs) with the hosting main grid. An understanding of HMGs and their operational philosophy during islanding will assuredly pave the way toward the realization of a future smart grid that includes a plug-and-play feature and will alleviate any operational challenges. However, the planning and operation of such islanded and hybrid systems are reliant on a powerful and efficient power flow analysis tool. To this end, this thesis introduces a novel unified, generic, flexible power flow algorithm for islanded/isolated HMGs. The developed algorithm is generic in the sense that it includes consideration of the unique characteristics of islanded HMGs: a variety of possible topologies, droop controllability of the DERs and bidirectionality of the power flow in the ICs. The new power flow formulation is flexible and permits the easy incorporation of any changes in the DER operating modes and the IC control schemes. The developed algorithm was validated against a detailed time-domain model and applied for the analysis of a variety of operational and control aspects in islanded HMGs, including the problem of imprecise power sharing and droop control of the ICs. The proposed load flow program can form the basis of and provide direction for further studies of islanded HMGs. This thesis also presents a deeper look at the problem of inaccurate active and reactive power sharing in islanded droop-based HMGs and proposes a unified and universal power sharing scheme that can simultaneously ensure precise power sharing in both ac and dc subgrids. Test results demonstrate the capability of the developed scheme with respect to achieving exact power sharing not only among DERs in proportion to their ratings but also among ICs that interface adjacent ac and dc microgrids. The developed unified power sharing scheme would assist system planners with the effective design of droop characteristics for DERs and ICs, which would result in enhancements such as the avoidance of converter overloading and the achievement of precise load sharing. Another operational aspect that was thoroughly investigated for this thesis is the possibility of voltage instability/collapse in islanded HMGs during contingencies. This research unveiled the possibility of voltage instability in HMGs that include constant power loads and a mix of synchronous-based and converter-based generating units. As indicated by the voltage stability analysis presented here, despite the fact that healthy microgrids have far-reaching loadability boundaries, the voltage at some ac/dc load buses can unexpectedly collapse during abnormal conditions. The analysis also revealed that fine tuning the droop characteristics of DERs and ICs can enlarge the voltage stability margin and safeguard the entire microgrid against collapse during contingencies, all without the sacrifice of a single load. A final component of this thesis is the proposal of a two-stage stochastic centralized dispatch scheme for ac/dc hybrid distribution systems. The developed dispatch scheme coordinates the operation of a variety of DERs, such as distributed generators and energy storage systems. It also ensures the coordinated charging of electric vehicles and models the degradation of their batteries that occurs due to the vehicle-to-grid action. The energy coordination problem has been formulated as a two-stage day-ahead resource scheduling problem: the intermittent supply; the variable demand, which includes electric vehicles; and the fluctuating real-time energy price are all modelled as random variables. The first stage produces day-ahead dispatch decisions for the dispatchable DG units. For a set of possible scenarios over the next 24 h, the second stage determines appropriate corrective decisions with respect to the import/export schedule, storage charging/discharging cycles, and electric vehicle charging/discharging patterns. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed scheme for optimally coordinating the various components of future ac/dc hybrid smart grids. Despite its substantial merits and value as a host for ac and dc technologies, a smart grid with HMGs creates previously unexperienced operational challenges for system planners and operators. The work completed for this thesis could help pave the way for the realization of ac/dc hybrid smart grids in years to come

Voltage Stability of Power Systems with Renewable-Energy Inverter-Based Generators: A Review

The main purpose of developing microgrids (MGs) is to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into the power grid. RESs are normally connected to the grid via power electronic inverters. As various types of RESs are increasingly being connected to the electrical power grid, power systems of the near future will have more inverter-based generators (IBGs) instead of synchronous machines. Since IBGs have significant differences in their characteristics compared to synchronous generators (SGs), particularly concerning their inertia and capability to provide reactive power, their impacts on the system dynamics are different compared to SGs. In particular, system stability analysis will require new approaches. As such, research is currently being conducted on the stability of power systems with the inclusion of IBGs. This review article is intended to be a preface to the Special Issue on Voltage Stability of Microgrids in Power Systems. It presents a comprehensive review of the literature on voltage stability of power systems with a relatively high percentage of IBGs in the generation mix of the system. As the research is developing rapidly in this field, it is understood that by the time that this article is published, and further in the future, there will be many more new developments in this area. Certainly, other articles in this special issue will highlight some other important aspects of the voltage stability of microgrids

Impact of demand side management approaches for the enhancement of voltage stability loadability and customer satisfaction index

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.This research work presents the tri-level optimization framework for the optimal scheduling of grid-connected and autonomous microgrids to diminish power losses and maximize loadability. Since the network's voltage profile depends on the loading level, the flexible load shaping-based demand-side management strategy is incorporated to investigate its impact on microgrid loadability. With the consideration of uncertain parameters related to renewable power generation, load demand, and power loss, voltage limit constraints, the resultant problem is formulated as a stochastic mixed-integer non-linear problem to enhance microgrid loadability and optimize daily operating costs. The interdependency of demand side management program and microgrid loadability is investigated. The seasonal load profiles covering the weekend and weekday loads in winter, summer, and spring/fall seasons are examined in this research work. The enhanced versions of the distribution networks IEEE-33 and IEEE-69 based microgrid test systems are chosen to evaluate the proposed framework in both off-grid and autonomous modes of operation. Simultaneously, the overall customer satisfaction index is evaluated and improved according to the seasonal load profiles winter weekday, winter-weekend, summer-weekday, summer-weekend, spring-weekday, and spring-weekend by 8.68%, 7.97%, 16.7%, 19.62%, 17.14%, 20.50% respectively. The recently reported Whale Optimization Algorithm is adopted to solve the proposed optimization problem, and the obtained simulation results are validated by comparing them with popular metaheuristic algorithms. The computational burden on the utility is reduced for optimal scheduling of grid-integrated microgrid to extract maximum power by maintaining network voltage profile.The National Key R&D Program of China.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/apenergyhj2024Electrical, Electronic and Computer EngineeringSDG-07:Affordable and clean energ

“Estrategia de control robusto descentralizado para una micro-red aislada con generación distribuida acoplada para mejorar la estabilidad de voltaje”

El constante avance de la tecnología requiere una gran cantidad de energía, por ello se ha propuesto la inclusión de fuentes de energía renovable (RES) cerca de los centros de carga. Estas RES son implementadas también en sectores donde el sistema eléctrico convencional no es capaz de llegar, de esta manera se garantiza el abastecimiento de energía eléctrica a toda la población. Sin embargo, la implementación de estos nuevos sistemas implica retos de control para que su funcionamiento sea correcto, indiferente que la Micro-red funcione de forma conectada o aislada a la red convencional. Este trabajo presenta una novedosa estrategia de control de Micro-redes aisladas, basado en el control jerárquico y control droop modificado. Esta estrategia robusta permite mejorar la estabilidad de voltaje y su comportamiento transitorio. Se implementa una Micro-red de referencia con dos fuentes fotovoltaicas con valores nominales. Lo que permite verificar el desempeño de la estrategia propuesta comparando con un controlador PI convencional.Technological advances demand a huge amount of electricity, therefore Renewable Energy Resources (RES) must be near the electrical demand is huge, in addition they are implemented in rural places, where electric utility is not able to provide the service. However, the implementation of these new systems implies facing new challenges for the correct operation of Microgrid connected or islanded from the conventional system. This research presents a novel control strategy for islanded Microgrids, based on hierarchical control and modified droop control. The robust control strategy presented allows stability voltage improvement and its transient behavior. Which subscribes to verify the performance of the proposed strategy compared with a conventional PI controller

Optimal and Secure Electricity Market Framework for Market Operation of Multi-Microgrid Systems

Traditional power systems were typically based on bulk energy services by large utility companies. However, microgrids and distributed generations have changed the structure of modern power systems as well as electricity markets. Therefore, restructured electricity markets are needed to address energy transactions in modern power systems. In this dissertation, we developed a hierarchical and decentralized electricity market framework for multi-microgrid systems, which clears energy transactions through three market levels; Day-Ahead-Market (DAM), Hour-Ahead-Market (HAM) and Real-Time-Market (RTM). In this market, energy trades are possible between all participants within the microgrids as well as inter-microgrids transactions. In this approach, we developed a game-theoretic-based double auction mechanism for energy transactions in the DAM, while HAM and RTM are cleared by an optimization algorithm and reverse action mechanism, respectively. For data exchange among market players, we developed a secure data-centric communication approach using the Data Distribution Service. Results demonstrated that this electricity market could significantly reduce the energy price and dependency of the multi-microgrid area on the external grid. Furthermore, we developed and verified a hierarchical blockchain-based energy transaction framework for a multi-microgrid system. This framework has a unique structure, which makes it possible to check the feasibility of energy transactions from the power system point of view by evaluating transmission system constraints. The blockchain ledger summarization, microgrid equivalent model development, and market players’ security and privacy enhancement are new approaches to this framework. The research in this dissertation also addresses some ancillary services in power markets such as an optimal power routing in unbalanced microgrids, where we developed a multi-objective optimization model and verified its ability to minimize the power imbalance factor, active power losses and voltage deviation in an unbalanced microgrid. Moreover, we developed an adaptive real-time congestion management algorithm to mitigate congestions in transmission systems using dynamic thermal ratings of transmission lines. Results indicated that the developed algorithm is cost-effective, fast, and reliable for real-time congestion management cases. Finally, we completed research about the communication framework and security algorithm for IEC 61850 Routable GOOSE messages and developed an advanced protection scheme as its application in modern power systems

Modeling, Stability Analysis, and Control of Distributed Generation in the Context of Microgrids

One of the consequences of competitive electricity markets and international commitments to green energy is the fast development and increase in the amount of distributed generation (DG) in distribution grids. These DGs are resulting in a change in the nature of distribution systems from being "passive", containing only loads, to "active", including loads and DGs. This will affect the dynamic behavior of both transmission and distribution systems. There are many technical aspects and challenges of DGs that have to be properly understood and addressed. One of them is the need for adequate static and dynamic models for DG units, particularly under unbalanced conditions, to perform proper studies of distribution systems with DGs (e.g., microgrids). The primary objective of this thesis is the development and implementation of dynamic and static models of various DG technologies for stability analysis. These models allow studying systems with DGs both in the long- and short-term; thus, differential and algebraic equations of various DGs are formulated and discussed in order to integrate these models into existing power system analysis software tools. The presented and discussed models are generally based on dynamic models of different DGs for stability studies considering the dynamics of the primary governor, generators, and their interfaces and controls. A new comprehensive investigation is also presented of the effects of system unbalance on the stability of distribution grids with DG units based on synchronous generator (SG) and doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) at different loading levels. Detailed steady-state and dynamic analyses of the system are performed. Based on voltage and angle stability studies, it is demonstrated that load unbalance can significantly affect the distribution system dynamic performance. Novel, simple, and effective control strategies based on an Unbalanced Voltage Stabilizer (UVS) are also proposed to improve the system control and the stability of unbalanced distribution systems with SG- and DFIG-based DGs

Effective dispatch strategies assortment according to the effect of the operation for an islanded hybrid microgrid

The optimized design of a freestanding hybrid microgrid for various distinct dispatch controls is assessed in this paper, which considers the optimal sizes of individual components, system response, and reliability analysis. The effective design and management of stand-alone islanded hybrid smartgrids are getting increasingly importance and influences as the prevalence of renewable energy in microgrids grows. Melville Island, off the coast of eastern Queensland, Australia, is taken as the test microgrid in this study. For the optimal sizing and techno-economic assessment of the intended hybrid microgrid system consist of of solar diesel generator, PV, battery storage, and wind turbine, four dispatch approaches have been unitized: load following, generator order, combined dispatch, and cycle charging strategy. The proposed off-grid microgrid's CO2 emissions, total net present cost (NPC), and the Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) have all been optimized. In HOMER software, all the possible dispatch algorithms were analyzed, and the power system responses and reliability study were carried out using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The findings of the study are useful for determining the optimum hybrid combination and available resources for the best performance of an off-grid microgrid employing various dispatch mechanisms. Following the simulation data, load-following is the best dispatch mechanism for stand-alone microgrid architecture since it has the lowest LCOE and NPC.This research work has been supported by Qatar National Library (QNL).Scopu

Static Voltage Stability Analysis for Islanded Microgrids

The ongoing development of renewable energy and microgrid technologies has gradually transformed the conventional energy infrastructure into a modernized system with more distributed generation and localized energy storage options. Compared with power grids utilizing synchronous generation, inverter-based networks cannot physically provide large amounts of inertia. Therefore, more advanced, and extensive studies regarding stability considerations are required for such systems. Appropriate analytical methods are needed for the voltage stability analysis of renewable-dominated power systems, which incorporate many inverters and distributed energy sources. Microgrid voltage stability is being challenged as the power output of renewable energy generation is not as stable as the traditional generation used in the main grid. Therefore, the choice of voltage stability analysis techniques plays an important role in the stable operation of the microgrid. This thesis comprehensively studies static voltage stability analyses of islanded microgrids with high levels of renewable energy penetration. Firstly, a series of generalized evaluation schemes and improvement methods relating to the voltage stability of power systems integrated with various distributed energy resources are discussed. This study presents guidelines for voltage stability analysis and instability mitigation methods for modern renewable-rich power systems. Then, four dominant VSI techniques for microgrids are studied and compared in this paper. An islanded microgrid system is modelled based on the IEEE-14-bus system in PSCAD. The model evaluates the stability results analyzed by different voltage stability indices (VSIs). Four simulation scenarios are applied in this thesis, including changing the output power of distributed generations (DGs) and the connection position of the DGs. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed based on the simulation results. A ranking of bus voltage stability is obtained based on the simulation and the VSI calculation. Finally, a novel static voltage stability analysis technique is proposed

Revisión de la optimización de Bess en sistemas de potencia

The increasing penetration of Distributed Energy Resources has imposed several challenges in the analysis and operation of power systems, mainly due to the uncertainties in primary resource. In the last decade, implementation of Battery Energy Storage Systems in electric networks has caught the interest in research since the results have shown multiple positive effects when deployed optimally. In this paper, a review in the optimization of battery storage systems in power systems is presented. Firstly, an overview of the context in which battery storage systems are implemented, their operation framework, chemistries and a first glance of optimization is shown. Then, formulations and optimization frameworks are detailed for optimization problems found in recent literature. Next, A review of the optimization techniques implemented or proposed, and a basic explanation of the more recurrent ones is presented. Finally, the results of the review are discussed. It is concluded that optimization problems involving battery storage systems are a trending topic for research, in which a vast quantity of more complex formulations have been proposed for Steady State and Transient Analysis, due to the inclusion of stochasticity, multi-periodicity and multi-objective frameworks. It was found that the use of Metaheuristics is dominant in the analysis of complex, multivariate and multi-objective problems while relaxations, simplifications, linearization, and single objective adaptations have enabled the use of traditional, more efficient, and exact techniques. Hybridization in metaheuristics has been important topic of research that has shown better results in terms of efficiency and solution quality.La creciente penetración de recursos distribuidos ha impuesto desafíos en el análisis y operación de sistemas de potencia, principalmente debido a incertidumbres en los recursos primarios. En la última década, la implementación de sistemas de almacenamiento por baterías en redes eléctricas ha captado el interés en la investigación, ya que los resultados han demostrado efectos positivos cuando se despliegan óptimamente. En este trabajo se presenta una revisión de la optimización de sistemas de almacenamiento por baterías en sistemas de potencia. Pare ello se procedió, primero, a mostrar el contexto en el cual se implementan los sistemas de baterías, su marco de operación, las tecnologías y las bases de optimización. Luego, fueron detallados la formulación y el marco de optimización de algunos de los problemas de optimización encontrados en literatura reciente. Posteriormente se presentó una revisión de las técnicas de optimización implementadas o propuestas recientemente y una explicación básica de las técnicas más recurrentes. Finalmente, se discutieron los resultados de la revisión. Se obtuvo como resultados que los problemas de optimización con sistemas de almacenamiento por baterías son un tema de tendencia para la investigación, en el que se han propuesto diversas formulaciones para el análisis en estado estacionario y transitorio, en problemas multiperiodo que incluyen la estocasticidad y formulaciones multiobjetivo. Adicionalmente, se encontró que el uso de técnicas metaheurísticas es dominante en el análisis de problemas complejos, multivariados y multiobjetivo, mientras que la implementación de relajaciones, simplificaciones, linealizaciones y la adaptación mono-objetivo ha permitido el uso de técnicas más eficientes y exactas. La hibridación de técnicas metaheurísticas ha sido un tema relevante para la investigación que ha mostrado mejorías en los resultados en términos de eficiencia y calidad de las soluciones