Professor James L. Kirtley, Jr.
PI at MIT
Professor Konstantin Turitsyn
PI at MIT
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Professor Mohamed Yaseen Al Hosani
PI at Masdar Institute
In this project, an intelligent multi-microgrid (MMG) structure with interactive capabilities is to be developed and investigated.
Microgrids involve the connection of multiple, smaller energy resources to the distribution network and these energy resources are allowed to operate when the traditional grid is disconnected. The adoption of interactive microgrids into existing distribution networks is thought to improve the efficiency and reliability of microgrid networks with integrated Distributed Generations (DGs), which presents a necessary advance toward making electric power grids a smart grid. A well-designed interactive MMG structure should allow active and reactive power exchange between the different microgrids to support both the frequency and voltage within each microgrid. Also, the interactive MMG structure is expected to provide better robust performance against disturbances and load changes in which neighboring microgrids can contribute to suppressing grid oscillations and supporting load variations. In addition, the coordination among the different microgrids is expected to achieve a higher stability margin for the overall MMG structure compared to a single microgrid, thereby improving the reliability and performance of isolated microgrids during fault conditions.
In this project, the interactions between different microgrids will be studied in terms of active and reactive power exchange, and their ability to support frequency and voltage within each microgrid. A multiple-time-scale perturbation theory will be developed for accurate and computationally effective assessment of droop=controlled microgrid stability. The developed computational framework will form a foundation for a next generation of control algorithms that ensure overall stability of the system.
The development of an intelligent MMG structure with interactive capabilities can increase the reliability and efficiency of integrated DGs and, hence, can contribute towards achieving Abu Dhabi's goal of obtaining 7% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
