Introduction to CROM

Welcome to our Center for Research on Microgrids - CROM

CROM is a European leading research center, affiliated to the Department of Energy Technology at Aalborg University. It is dedicated to the sustainable development on multi-disciplinary energy frameworks, providing reliable and optimal cutting-edge solutions to AC and DC microgrids, shipboard, offshore and maritime applications, space electric power systems, IoT-based energy systems among others. With more than 10 years of experience, CROM currently comprises world-class laboratories, having so far more than 100 members, including researchers, PhD students, and visiting scholars. As a major research center, CROM has established a close international cooperation with industry firms, universities, and research institutions.

MICROGRIDS: concept AND VISION

Microgrids are considered one of the most promising solutions to integrate renewable distributed generation into the electric power system. In the last decade, microgrid technology has been in a research and development phase. Even though there are a number of microgrid pilot plants around the world, the state-of-the-art solutions are not still mature enough to guarantee high reliability and expandability. In the past, microgrids were appearing as simple and small isolated electrical grids in remote areas and their control has basically been dominated by conventional techniques and management systems, while major part of them validated in a two or three-unit systems, often faraway from real-world power grids.

The urgency of the research proposed is arriving now since microgrids are becoming relatively large and complex interconnected systems with interactions between different technologies like power electronics, control systems, and communications, providing reliable energy support to the end-users, while taking into account efficiency and high rates of renewable energy penetration. On the other hand, the proposed research carries on high-risk by conjecturing that it is possible to support an unprecedented number of microgrids interconnected forming clusters, with high reliability levels due to the reduction of communications dependency.

MISSION AND VISION

CROM vision is to develop a research-oriented frameworks for design, analyse and assess multiple Microgrids with unprecedented levels of scalability and expandability, giving as a result highly efficient and resilient grids.

In CROM, we are aligned with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals.

CROM Brochure

CROM Annual Report

Audience and Awareness