Microgrids:experiences, barriers and success factors

Although microgrids have been researched for over a decade and recognized for their multitude of benefits to improve power reliability, security, sustainability, and decrease power costs for the consumer, they have still not reached rapid commercial growth. The main aim of this research is to identify the common barriers and ultimate success factors to implementing a microgrid in the real world. We found that microgrids vary significantly depending on location, components, and optimization goals, which cause them to experience different types of challenges and barriers. However, the most common barriers were identified and grouped into four categories: technical, regulatory, financial, and stakeholder, based on the literature and overlying patterns recognized amongst the thirteen case studies. The most common technical barriers include problems with technology components, dual-mode switching from grid-connected to island mode, power quality and control, and protection issues. There is extensive research on how to overcome these issues, so technical solutions are becoming available yet case specific. Regulatory barriers exist due to interconnection rules with the main grid and the prohibition of bi-directional power flow and local power trading between microgrid and the main network. The latter issue is the barrier experienced most often and has only recently been addressed, so solutions need further research. The main financial barrier is still the burden of high investment and replacement costs of the microgrid. This can be resolved with proper market support in the short term and might naturally resolve itself through learning over the long run. Lastly, stakeholder barriers include issues with conflicting self-interest and trust, and having the expertise to manage operations. These stakeholder barriers are not yet addressed in the literature and need to be further researched

Microgrids: Experiences, barriers and success factors

Although microgrids have been researched for over a decade and recognized for their multitude of benefits to improve power reliability, security, sustainability, and decrease power costs for the consumer, they have still not reached rapid commercial growth. The main aim of this research is to identify the common barriers and ultimate success factors to implementing a microgrid in the real world. We found that microgrids vary significantly depending on location, components, and optimization goals, which cause them to experience different types of challenges and barriers. However, the most common barriers were identified and grouped into four categories: technical, regulatory, financial, and stakeholder, based on the literature and overlying patterns recognized amongst the thirteen case studies. The most common technical barriers include problems with technology components, dual-mode switching from grid-connected to island mode, power quality and control, and protection issues. There is extensive research on how to overcome these issues, so technical solutions are becoming available yet case specific. Regulatory barriers exist due to interconnection rules with the main grid and the prohibition of bi-directional power flow and local power trading between microgrid and the main network. The latter issue is the barrier experienced most often and has only recently been addressed, so solutions need further research. The main financial barrier is still the burden of high investment and replacement costs of the microgrid. This can be resolved with proper market support in the short term and might naturally resolve itself through learning over the long run. Lastly, stakeholder barriers include issues with conflicting self-interest and trust, and having the expertise to manage operations. These stakeholder barriers are not yet addressed in the literature and need to be further researched

Application of a microgrid with renewables for a water treatment plant

This research explores the techno-economic potential for a predominantly renewable electricity-based microgrid serving an industrial-sized drink water plant in the Netherlands. Grid-connected and stand-alone microgrid scenarios were modeled, utilizing measured wind speed and solar irradiation data, real time manufacturer data for technology components, and a bottom-up approach to model a flexible demand from demand response. The modeled results show that there is a very high potential for renewable electricity at the site, which can make this drink water treatment plant's electricity consumption between 70% and 96% self-sufficient with renewable electricity from solar PV and wind power production. The results show that wind production potential is very high onsite and can meet 82% of onsite demand without adding solar PV. However, PV production potential is also substantial and provides a more balanced supply which can supply electricity at times when wind production is insufficient. Due to the supplemental supply over different parts of the day, adding solar PV also increases the benefits gained from the demand response strategy. Therefore, a solar-wind system combination is recommended over a wind only system. A 100% renewable system would require extremely large battery storage, which is not currently cost effective. Ultimately, even at the low wholesale electricity and sell-back price for large electricity consumers, grid-connection and the ability to trade excess electricity is extremely important for the cost-effectiveness of a microgrid system