Clean Energy Microgrids
Microgrids are electric power grids composed of loads and distributed energy resources which provide electricity to villages, university campuses and other entities usually smaller than cities which are capable of operating independently from the larger grid if necessary. Such systems are gaining importance in times of rising shares of renewable power and desire for energy resilience. There is a need for an updated work and overview describing the latest technology in microgrids and also adding perspectives of economics, environment and energy policies, including microgrids for cold regions, and future trends. The aim of this work is to give this complete overview of the latest technology around the world, and the interrelation with clean energy systems. Topics covered include key concepts and definitions; microgrid communication and control; storage systems for microgrids; microgrid reliability; clean generation in microgrids; country case studies; economics and policies. The book is essential reading for researchers and practicing engineers, as well as advanced students.
Inspec keywords: distributed power generation
Other keywords: smart grids; large centralised conventional power systems; clean energy microgrids
Subjects: General electrical engineering topics; Distributed power generation
- Book DOI: 10.1049/PBPO090E
- Chapter DOI: 10.1049/PBPO090E
- ISBN: 9781785610974
- e-ISBN: 9781785610981
- Page count: 384
- Format: PDF
-
Front Matter
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
(1)
-
1 Origin of clean energy systems
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
1
–49
(49)
In this work, the relationship between the accuracy of output prediction of the solar cell and the operation plan of the microgrid was determined. GA provides a facile method for solving optimised problem and can be easily adapted to complicated energy systems. Conventional GA requires a long runtime when the microgrid contains numerous energy sources and the solution must be highly accurate.
-
2 Key concepts [microgrids]
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
51
–108
(58)
Microgrids can operate connected or isolated from a larger or main power system. The microgrid interconnected to a large-scale commercial power system depends, in many aspects, on the interconnected system. The author believes that the study of an independent microgrid is a good method to develop various interconnected microgrids. The key concepts, in a microgrid, are better presented as examples, highlighting the main aspects and characteristics of this type of small grids. Therefore, this chapter describes an example of a microgrid with a fuel cell combined cycle first. Next, the case of a microgrid with interconnected coal gasification fuel cell power generation and pumped hydropower generation is described.
-
3 Control and energy management system in microgrids
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
109
–133
(25)
As a cutting-edge technology, microgrids feature intelligent EMSs and sophisticated control, which will dramatically change our energy infrastructure. The modern microgrids are a relatively recent development with high potential to bring distributed generation, DES devices, controllable loads, communication infrastructure, and many new technologies into the mainstream. As a more controllable and intelligent entity, a microgrid has more growth potential than ever before. However, there are still many open questions, such as the future business models and economics. What is the cost-benefit to the end-user? How should we systematically evaluate the potential benefits and costs of control and energy management in a microgrid?
-
4 Storage systems for microgrids
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
135
–180
(46)
Change in the output of renewable energy considerably influences the quality of electric power in independent microgrids designed to realise local supply and consumption of energy. Accordingly, operating methods and costs were analysed for a microgrid incorporating two types of energy storage equipment: a sodium-sulphur (NaS) battery, and a hydrogen medium incorporating the OCHM. The installed capacity and cost were calculated, assuming an independent microgrid in Kitami City, a cold region in Japan. The OCHM-A system was designed to simulate energy storage similar to that of a battery, whereas OCHM-B was simulated to substitute power transmission or transportation of the OCHM.
-
5 Reliability and power quality
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
181
–205
(25)
This chapter aims to present different aspects of reliability and power quality in microgrids from a perspective of its interconnection with a larger system, such a smart grid or a centralised power system. After definitions and key concepts are presented, a case study is included in order to highlight how vulnerable a microgrid can be under disturbances, and the important role of control and storage systems to keep the grid stable and working properly.
-
6 Clean generation in microgrids
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
207
–232
(26)
The aim of this chapter is to present a broad overview of the main clean generation methods existing today in microgrids. Since a complete and detailed analysis of each of them would become impractical for a single chapter in a book, and also considering that there exist advanced technical literature addressing these types of generation, the clean generation systems are succinctly described, and the main characteristics, including current market status and some advantages and disadvantages, are presented. Conventional centralised power generation, such as nuclear and fossil-fuel-based power centralised power plants, are not included in this chapter. Following the sections presenting the different generation systems, the last section presents a case study of a microgrid covering a small city located in a cold region in Japan showing that in a given microgrid interconnected with a larger centralised grid, its annual total demand can be supplied with 100% of clean energy and renewable energy.
-
7 Microgrids in Japan
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
233
–257
(25)
This chapter aims to present to the reader an overview of the current status of the Japanese clean energy technology, in perspective with the current Japanese Energy Policy, putting emphasis on MGs in the country and its interrelation with, and its role within the whole energy sector in Japan. The main current trends, reflected in the new revised Japanese energy policy following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, including the pilot projects in the country or carried out by Japanese companies and institutions abroad, are addressed in this chapter. The roles and characteristics of MGs can be better appreciated from the perspective of a country with strict requirements for energy reliability due to its risky location regarding natural disasters and demanding geography. It is expected that from this chapter the reader can appreciate how largely Japanese clean energy sector has changed and is now evolving in order to establish a future energy mix to achieve the targets of CO2 emission reduction, enhanced energy security and a sustainable energy generation.
-
8 Microgrids in Europe
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
259
–282
(24)
In this section, we analyse what could be expected of microgrids in the years to come in Europe. As it has been seen, numerous successful projects have been developed in the last decade across the whole continent. Most of the microgrids that have been developed, however, have purposes of R&D or demonstration. Furthermore, virtually all these projects have had some sort of financial aid through European or government funds. This means that although technical feasibility and environmental pertinence has been proven, there is still work to be done to increase economic attractiveness of microgrids for private project developers. Over the next years, microgrids can be expected to begin their journey outside the R&D world and into the real electricity market.
-
9 Microgrids in the United States
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
283
–311
(29)
In this book, several benefits of microgrids have been presented. For instance, they offer numerous potential benefits to customers, including improvement in reliability by providing portion of power to the grid, operating as an islanded microgrid of the electric power system during a utility outage and solving power quality problems like the reduction of total harmonic distortion in loads. There are also utility benefits such as solving overload problems by removing load from the system and by allowing a part of the system to island intentionally. The USA knows these advantages; therefore, microgrid implementation has evolved in the last few years.
-
10 Microgrids in developing countries
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
313
–347
(35)
Developing countries are those whose economies are in the process of economic development from underdevelopment or a transitional economy [1]. These countries have not attained a high level of industrialization yet and have some problems related to weak infrastructures, inequality, and so on. Two-thirds of the world's population live in developing countries located mainly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Some of the main social problems of developing countries are [1] poverty, understood as the lack of wealth to meet the needs of the inhabitants; high unemployment and corruption rates; economic inequality among their inhabitants; little or no funding for science and technology from the state; low per capita income; and technological dependence on other countries.
-
Back Matter
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
(1)