A Review of Control Strategies for Microgrids

Abstract

Global demand for electrical energy has never been higher than it is currently. This high demand for electricity has driven need for innovative and sustainable power production schemes. The current power system is therefore challenged with the need for quality, reliable and sustainable power production. In most countries, the system is aging, making it require more resources to meet contemporary challenges, coupled with the requirements to maintain a clean environment and mitigate environmental disasters. These lead to the microgrid concept. Deployment and use of the microgrid comes with new challenges - control and protection. In this paper, some of the most obvious control challenges of microgrid operations have been articulated. Nine (9) of the recent control strategies in literature have also been presented in this paper, including a brief explanation on the fundamental principles of the proposed strategies. Finally, this paper also presents a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses associated with the control strategies in literature.