ECE 333 – Renewable Energy

Systems
19. Microgrids

Siddhartha Nigam
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 1
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 2
 OBJECTIVES
 To assess the motivation behind μgs

 To get an overview of the concept of μg

 To look at the technical advancements that took

place since the early 20th century

 To identify the salient features of a μg

 To view some of the working models of a μg

 To view the μg benefits and roles

 To discuss the future of μgs

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 3
 OUTLINE

 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 4
 MICROGRID - DEFINITION

A microgrid is a network of interconnected loads

and distributed energy resources, within clearly

defined geographic boundaries, with the

properties that it is a single controllable entity

with respect to the grid and that it operates either

connected to or disconnected from the grid, i.e.,

in either the grid connected or in the islanded mode.

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 5
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 6
 EVOLUTION OF THE US GRID
 At the beginning of the 20th century, most cities
operated their own grids islanded from each
other
 As late as 1918, half the US customers were still
receiving power from small scale isolated power
systems with small total capacity – below 10 MW
 The power systems in individual towns were not
interconnected with each other and were
confined to a few square miles
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 7
 EVOLUTION OF THE US GRID
 These early power systems were generally not too
reliable as the power was supplied by, typically, a
single power plant or, in some cases, two plants
 Power system engineers soon learned that the
interconnection of small systems with the pooled
resources increases power system reliability
 The numerous technological innovations in the
1910s and 1920s, together with the changing regu-
latory scene, set the grid on a path that spurred
the interconnection of many smaller systems
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 8
 EVOLUTION OF THE US GRID
 In the interconnected system, large-scale central
plant generation output was distributed via the
grid transmission lines to the loads
 Large systems handled, typically, supply-demand
balance more efficiently than smaller networks
and provided improved economies of scale
 A broad range of generation options allowed for
fuel flexibility and resulted in improved economic
dispatch
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 9
 MOTIVATION TOWARDS A μg
 As the economy expands, the need for additional
electricity generation and transmission resources
arises to meet the increased demand
 Today’s transmission system is heavily stressed
during peak hours with extensive grid congestion
 The integration of the deeper penetration of
renewable resources further increases the need
for transmission expansion – a major challenge in
terms of the environmental and cost barriers that
must be overcome
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 10
 MOTIVATION TOWARDS A μg
 The antiquated US grid is increasingly subject to
weather incidents, such as storm Sandy in 2012,
and cyber attacks, which may result in major
social and financial impacts
 Given the status of the grid and the difficulties in
the implementation of grid expansion plans,
there is a need to drive the generation resources
further down into the distribution system to
ensure reliable electricity supply
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 11
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 12
 THE MICROGRID CONCEPT
 A possible solution to the migration towards the
distribution level interconnection of generation
sources is the deployment of the microgrid – μg –
networks that interconnect the supply and the
demand resources
 μgs generate and distribute electricity to loads
but do so on a purely local scale
 μgs may be seen simply as an alternative reconfi-
guration of power systems than the transmission
– level interconnections that are so widely used
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 13
 THE MICROGRID CONCEPT
 The key difference between the μgs and the early
20th century isolated power system designs is the
ability of μgs to operate in both a connected mode
to, as well as an islanded mode from, the grid
 When connected to the grid, the μgs make full use
of the advantages of an interconnected grid
 Under normal and contingency cases, the μg can
disconnect to form an island and to make use of
the local generation to maintain continuous
supply to its loads
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 14
 THE MICROGRID CONCEPT
switch or point of
common connection
(PCC)

μg A
μg B

μg C

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 15
 THE MICROGRID CONCEPT
 μg implementation is generally carried out at the

lower voltage levels of the distribution system

with the integrated generation resources

 The rapid pace of μg implementation has resulted

in a broad range of projects that vary from a few

kW to several MW depending on the application

 The rapid growth and the technical advancements

help the implementation of the μg concept

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 16
 GLOBAL PV LCOE TRENDS

source: http://climatecommercial.wordpress.com/page/2/
historical data
50
2013 ¢ / kWh

40

30
forecast
20

10

0
1
year
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 17
 INSTALATION COSTS BY SECTORS
7
residential commercial utility
BOS

source:http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62558.pdf
6
2013 dollars / W p

5
inverter
4

3
module

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 18
 US WIND LCOE TREND

http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=5547#CostofWindEnergy
60

50

40

30 LCOE
20

10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 19
EVOLUTION OF DEVICES USED FOR
POWER CONVERSION
year device application

1880-1900 MG sets dc-ac conversion, not an efficient method

mercury arc tubes,

dc-ac conversion, handle high power levels but with
1920-1950 selenium rectifier
no control
grid control

1960 SCR ac-dc rectification easier but no turn off control

can work under high power and frequency, but

1970-1980 power BJT, FET
higher losses, hence used only in amplifiers

insulated gate reached even higher power handling levels of

1990
bipolar transistor 500 kW, grid scale dc-ac conversion possible

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 20
IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER TIME

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 21
 IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER TIME
 The cost of electricity generation from renewable

resources has dropped significantly and the

performance is much better with improved

designs of turbines and PV cells

 Improvements in the area of power electronic

conversion has made the integration of

renewable energy with the distribution grid

possible
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 22
 IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER TIME
 Renewable resources generally produce dc power
which needs to be converted to ac power at grid
level ac voltage before integration into the grid
 The application of switches such as IGBT and
power MOSFET in the dc-ac converter circuits was
key to the large dc-ac power conversion from
various sources for grid integration
 These switches were different from their earlier
counterparts as they could attain higher power
conversion levels with reduced losses
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 23
 IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER TIME
 These switches can also work under a very high

switching frequency of the order of hundreds kHz

and reduce the size of the converter circuit

 Improved converter designs, better control

techniques and reduced switching losses have

made the integration of renewable resources

more effective
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 24
 IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER TIME
 There is widespread interest in the area of energy

storage technology due to its numerous benefits

 Energy storage can play a key role in maintaining

the supply – demand balance under various

system operating conditions and provides added

flexibility in system operations

 Energy storage acts both as a load and as a

resource and so is a key grid asset

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 25
 SALIENT μg FEATURES
 The two μg operation modes are sometimes
referred to as parallel or grid tied mode and
islanded or isolated mode
 The μg load comprises both commercial and
residential consumers
 The μg supply resources are distributed genera-
tion units of renewable and non-renewable resour-
ces and include energy storage devices, all sited
within the clearly defined μg boundaries
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 26
 SALIENT μg FEATURES
 The energy storage devices mainly consist of

rechargeable batteries

 Their operations are coordinated with the other

generation and load resources to help in the

supply – demand balance maintenance

 Power electronic converters are generally used to

provide grid interface of the various distributed

energy resources in a μg
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 27
 SALIENT μg FEATURES
 The μg consumers also get an opportunity to

contribute to electricity generation by the

deployment of rooftop solar on their own homes

 The connection of loads to the local generation

may use the utility distribution network or deploy

the newly implemented μg wires

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 28
 A TYPICAL μg DESIGN

source: http://testgec.us/about-us/about-us/technology/
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 29
 A RESIDENTIAL μg DESIGN

source: EPRI report, Microgrids: A Primer

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 30
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 31
CRITICAL LOAD : SANTA RITA JAIL

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Earth%27s_Axis.gif
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 32
 SANTA RITA JAIL: μg FEATURES
 Jail is considered to be a critical load and the
continuity of electricity supply is a must which is
ensured by a μg implementation
 Project has a 1.2–MW rooftop solar PV array, 1–
MW fuel cell and a 2–MW energy storage system
 The μg operations alternate between
 grid-connected mode with power purchases
during non peak hours
 islanded mode with ability to operate
autonomously for up to 8 hours
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 33
ISOLATED COMMUNITY : BORREGO
SPRINGS μg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Earth%27s_Axis.gif
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 34
 ISOLATED COMMUNITY : BORREGO
SPRINGS μg
 Borrego Springs is an isolated community fed by
a single transmission line
 Any damage to that transmission line may leave a
lot of consumers without power, a situation that is
avoided by a μg implementation by SDG&E
 In September 2013, a thunderstorm damaged the
only transmission line but within a few hours,
1,060 customers had their power restored
automatically due to its μg operation
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 35
 ISOLATED COMMUNITY : BORREGO
SPRINGS μg
 The μg remained islanded during the emergency

situation as the utility company repaired the

damaged poles

 Borrego Springs μg consists of two 1.8 MW

diesel generator, about 700 MW of rooftop solar

PV and batteries for additional storage

 It is able to serve a peak load of around 4.5 MW

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 36
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY μg UNDER
HURRICANE SANDY

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Earth%
27s_Axis.gif
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 37
 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY μg UNDER
HURRICANE SANDY
 During hurricane Sandy, 1.9 million people lost
power in NY city as Con Ed had shut down power
to prevent any further damage to the generating
system and equipment due to facility flooding
 The NYU μg demonstrated the resilient nature of
the μgs by generating electricity during the storm
by the help of its newly installed cogeneration
plant which didn’t flood as it was located in a
chamber beneath the ground
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 38
 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY μg UNDER
HURRICANE SANDY
 NYU μg depended upon the underground natural
gas grid lines which supplied the fuel to its local
gas powered generators to produce electricity
 Electricity was then supplied to the buildings
which were in close proximity of the generation
by its underground distribution network
 Built with the purpose to reduce energy costs,
NYU’s cogeneration plant showcased the most
important advantage of a μg in maintaining the
continuity of supply under an unexpected event
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 39
 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY μg : OTHER
BENEFITS
 The total savings on the annual energy costs due

to the NYU μg turned out to be a huge $ 5 to $ 8

million per year

 The NYU μg also makes use of the waste heat

from gas generators for heating purposes

 The NYU μg generating resources that replaced

the old oil fired generators have drastically

reduced NYU’s NOx, SO2, and CO2 emissions

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 40
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

 μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 41
 BENEFITS
 The most important benefit of the μg is its lesser

dependence on the huge and currently stressed

grid and hence it shows increased resiliency

during unexpected events

 One of the primary feature of the μg as seen in

the examples is the ability to disconnect from

the area utility and continue to provide electricity

to its customer during unexpected events

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 42
 BENEFITS
 μgs have a smaller demand to manage and

hence the control of intermittency of renewable

energy generation is easier at a local level

through coordination of storage and demand

with generation output

 μgs can help in reducing the line losses to a

certain extent with the generators and loads

existing within a defined boundary

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 43
 BENEFITS
 From the system operator standpoint, a μg can

serve as:

 a reliable, dispatchable energy resource

 an ancillary service resource

 a load shed resource

 A consumption resource (to handle over

generation)
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 44
 BENEFITS
 μgs can recapture the waste heat from the local

generation to use for heating purposes

 As μg implementation expands, there will be a

reduced need for the existing fossil fuel based

central station generations

 Thus μgs can help in reducing the NOx, SO2, and

CO2 emissions
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 45
 μg ROLES
 Grid connected mode of operation

 μg can sell the surplus real power, if any, back

to the grid and provide reliability to the grid

 reduce transmission line losses

 μg can help in demand response strategies by

controlling local generation and load

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 46
 μg ROLES
 can inject reactive power and hence provide

voltage support

 Islanded Mode

 μg ensures continuity of electricity supply to

its customers during unexpected events

 μg can play a key role in case of remote area

electrification
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 47
 OUTLINE
 Definition of a microgrid – μg

 Evolution of the US grid

 μg concepts and salient features

 Examples of μg implementations

 μg benefits and roles

μgs issues
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 48
 μgs ISSUES
 The unexpected weather events, increased
electricity needs and potential threat to the cyber
security of the grid have raised several questions
over the reliability of the current grid
 Hence, a pragmatic solution is seen in the wider-
spread implementation of the μg concept
 The performance of NYU μg during the hurricane
Sandy is an example of the resilient nature of a μg
under an extreme event
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 49
 μgs ISSUES

 In addition to the resiliency that a μg can provide,

it can also provide several other benefits to its

customers

 μg technologies are getting better and more cost

effective with better control algorithms, efficient

energy management systems, reduced costs of

renewable and natural gas electricity generation

ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 50
 μgs ISSUES

 There are currently 405 microgrid projects that

are under development or fully operating as of
April 2013, with 219 projects in the US
 But, at the same time, μgs might posses several
potential threats to the businesses of the current
utility companies in the near future according to
the notion that every kW produced under a μg is
not sold by the utilities
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 51
 μgs ISSUES
 The threats to the utility companies arise from

the fact that the utilities and μgs are not pitted in

a level playing field

 With the tax incentives, net metering, falling

costs of distributed generation, enhanced focus

on DERs etc. the balance is certainly in favor of

the μgs
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 52
 μgs ISSUES
 μgs are considered to be the building blocks of a
smart, reliable and a resilient grid which is
required in today’s scenario
 μgs are here to stay, but it would be interesting
to see how they are received by the other bodies
involved in the current electricity grid
 The need right now is to come up with a well
defined economic and a technical footprint of a
μg which does not harm the interests of the
existing players in the system
ECE 333 © 2002 – 2014 George Gross, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, All Rights Reserved. 53