The use of distributed generation (DG) units including renewable energy resources is becoming common and necessary due to worldwide green energy legislations and proposals. In this regard, the microgrid (MG) concept has appeared as a solution for the management in a controlled manner of DG units, including beneficial special operating characteristics; however, bottlenecks within microgrid technologies are mainly due to conventional way of conceiving electrical engineering, which is being breaking with the incorporation of information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence to this discipline. It is shown that by using such approaches, communication burden can be reduced while increasing system adaptability and flexibility. Therefore, a different research approach should be developed by investigating new and advanced tools and models to develop planning, operation and services of microgrid clusters towards the next smart grid requirements.
On the other hand, recent standards indicate that scalability, such as the expansion or the interconnection among MGs, have to be evaluated, and even for isolated MGs the future integration with the main grid has to be considered. In this way, the concept of multi-microgrids or microgrid cluster starts to play an important role for the MGs future development; this concept is related to higher level structures formed not only in low-voltage (LV) level but in medium-voltage (MV) level or a combination of both, i.e., the possibility of having several MGs connected through LV and MV feeders. In order to plan microgrid clusters, two level planning is necessary: intra-microgrid and cluster levels. The specific approach of the cluster level can be based on conventional power systems analysis or in constructal theories, and especially on bio-inspired algorithms, that have been originated by observing the forms of rivers, trees or lungs, with sizing, siting and operation scheduling purposes for energy generation, storage and distribution equipment. Moreover, application of bio-inspired techniques to specific microgrid/cluster planning scenarios is evaluated in order to select the best approach regarding problem constraints (under different site constraints and goals), and comparing them with different traditional approaches.
As a result, there is a clear gap between the microgrid concept and its potential as a decisive role in the new smart grid paradigm, allowing further investigation and proposal of ideas to embrace both concepts. Therefore, CROM proposes a bottom-up approach in order to conceive future smart grids from the interconnection of multiple microgrids.
SELECTED PHD/RESEARCH PROJECTS
- Power Management Systems for Shipboard ZED-based Multi-Microgrid Clusters - Xie Peilin
- Cyber Security for DC Microgrids and Microgrids Clusters - Tan Sen
- Microgrid Technologies for Future Offshore Wind Power Plants - Yun Yu
- Offshore Wind Farms Large-Scale Integration in Turkey - WindFlag
Danida Fellowship Centre - Period: 2020 - 2023
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Coupling effect analysis and control for grid-connected multi-microgrid clusters. Akhavan, A., Mohammadi, H. R., Vasquez, J. C. & Guerrero, J. M., 2020, In : IET Power Electronics.
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A Decentralized Control Architecture applied to DC Nanogrid Clusters for Rural Electrification in Developing Regions. Nasir, M., Jin, Z., Khan, H., Zaffar, N., Vasquez, J. & Guerrero, J. M., Feb 2019, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 34, 2, p. 1773-1785 13 p., 8341807.
- A Novel Approach to Neighborhood Fair Energy Trading in a Distribution Network of Multiple Microgrid Clusters. Jadhav, A. M., Patne, N. R. & Guerrero, J. M., 1 Feb 2019, In : IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. 66, 2, p. 1520-1531 12 p., 8316917.
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Dynamic Characteristics Analysis and Stabilization of PV-Based Multiple Microgrid Clusters, Zhao, Z., Yang, P., Wang, Y., Xu, Z. & Guerrero, J. M., Jan 2019, In : IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 10, 1, p. 805-818
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Stability Analysis of Primary Plug-and-Play and Secondary Leader-based Controllers for DC Microgrid Clusters, Han, R., Tucci, M., Martinelli, A., Guerrero, J. M. & Ferrari-Trecate, G., May 2019, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. 34, 3, p. 1780 - 1800 21 p.
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Adaptive Distributed EMS for Small Clusters of Resilient LVDC Microgrids Ciornei, I., Albu, M., Sanduleac, M., Rodriguez-Diaz, E., Teodorescu, R. & Guerrero, J., Jun 2018, Proceedings of the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering EEEIC/I&CPS Europe 2018. IEEE, p. 1-6 6 p.
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A Microgrid Cluster Structure and its Autonomous Coordination Control Strategy. Zhou, X., Zhou, L., Chen, Y., Guerrero, J. M., Luo, A., Wu, W. & Yang, L., 1 Sep 2018, In : International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems. 100, p. 69-80 12 p.
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Small-Signal Stability Analysis and Optimal Parameters Design of Microgrid Clusters, He, J., Wu, X., Wu, X., Xu, Y. & Guerrero, J. M., Jan 2019, In : IEEE Access. 7, p. 36896-36909 14 p., 8649582.
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Stability Analysis of Primary Plug-and-Play and Secondary Leader-based Controllers for DC Microgrid Clusters, Han, R., Tucci, M., Martinelli, A., Guerrero, J. M. & Ferrari-Trecate, G., May 2019, In : IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. 34, 3, p. 1780 - 1800 21 p.
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Distributed Coordination of Islanded Microgrid Clusters Using a Two-layer Intermittent Communication Network Lu, X., Lai, J., Yu, X., Wang, Y. & Guerrero, J. M., 1 Sep 2018, In : IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics. 14, 9, p. 3956-3969 14 p., 8207598.
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MAS-based Distributed Coordinated Control and Optimization in Microgrid and Microgrid Clusters: A Comprehensive Overview, Han, Y., Zhang, K., Hong, L., Coelho, E. A. A. & Guerrero, J. M., Aug 2018, In : I E E E Transactions on Power Electronics. 33, 8, p. 6488-6508 21 p.