Microgrid Control and Energy Management Strategies
Summary
Microgrids are localised energy systems integrating distributed generation, storage and loads, capable of operating autonomously or in concert with the main grid. Control architectures typically adopt a hierarchical approach: primary control employs droop or voltage–frequency regulation for immediate stability; secondary control restores nominal set-points and balances power sharing; tertiary control optimises economic dispatch and market interactions. Modern advances include model predictive control and artificial intelligence to address the variability of renewable resources and dynamic load profiles. Energy management systems coordinate storage state-of-charge, demand response and grid exchanges to enhance efficiency, resilience and cost-effectiveness. Seamless islanding and reconnection protocols, together with cyber-physical security measures, ensure reliable operation in diverse applications from remote rural electrification to resilient urban microgrids.
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Microgrid Control and Energy Management Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microgrid control and energy management strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microgrid: A local energy network that can operate autonomously or connected to the main grid, integrating generation, storage and loads.
Energy Management System (EMS): A supervisory control system that optimises the scheduling and dispatch of distributed energy resources and loads within a microgrid.
Hierarchical Control: A multi-layered framework dividing tasks into primary, secondary and tertiary levels to ensure stability, power quality and economic operation.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading: A decentralised transaction model where prosumers buy and sell electricity directly within a local market platform.
Model Predictive Control: An optimisation-based approach that uses a dynamic model to forecast future states and compute control actions over a moving horizon.
References
- Stability and Control Aspects of Microgrid Architectures–A Comprehensive Review. IEEE Access (2020).
- Energy Sustainability–Survey on Technology and Control of Microgrid, Smart Grid and Virtual Power Plant. IEEE Access (2021).
- Microgrid and Distributed Energy Resources Standards and Guidelines Review: Grid Connection and Operation Technical Requirements. Energies (2021).
- A Comprehensive Review on Power-Quality Issues, Optimization Techniques, and Control Strategies of Microgrid Based on Renewable Energy Sources. Sustainability (2023).
- A review of socio-technical barriers to Smart Microgrid development. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2022).
- Overview of Current Microgrid Policies, Incentives and Barriers in the European Union, United States and China. Sustainability (2017).
- Community-Based Microgrids: Literature Review and Pathways to Decarbonise the Local Electricity Network. Energies (2022).
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