IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2017 - 56

By Xiaonan Lu and Jianhui Wang

A Game Changer
Electrifying remote communities
by using isolated microgrids.

ICROGRIDS, AS SELF-CONTAINED ENTITIES, ARE OF INCREASING INTEREST
in modern electric grids. Microgrids provide a sustainable solution to aggre-
gate distributed energy resources (DERs) [e.g., photovoltaics (PVs), wind tur-
bines], energy storage, and loads in a localized manner, especially in
distribution systems. As a controllable unit, a microgrid can manage and bal-
ance the source and load power inside it to ensure stable and reliable operation. Moreover,
through coordination with upper-level control systems, it can be dispatched and respond to
the control commands issued by the central controller in the distribution system-in other
words, a system that is effectively a distribution management system (DMS).
In addition to the grid-connected microgrids that can interact with distribution systems
with controllable power exchange, microgrids can also be operated in off-grid modes to
electrify isolated systems. This particular application includes isolated power systems in
electric aircraft and shipboards as well as those in rural areas and military bases, which
may lack a reliable interconnection with utilities. Among these off-grid microgrid appli-
cations, remote microgrids electrifying rural areas have become popular because of one
key advantage: their remarkable capability to improve power availability. Leveraging the
capabilities of renewable energy sources (RESs) and intelligent energy management in
remote microgrids, local customers in rural communities can be energized without
importing any power from external grids, which avoids the huge investment and
maintenance costs associated with long-distance power delivery to these areas. Mean-
while, by using the backup devices, including energy storage units (ESUs) and diesel
generators, etc., the intermittency of RES can be alleviated, further improving the reli-
ability of remote microgrids. Worldwide, remote microgrids have been deployed to
meet the urgent needs of energizing local customers. For example, in the state of
Alaska in the United States, to enhance the resilience and reliability of electricity sup-
ply, microgrids have been intensively studied and developed to decentralize power
generation. Remote communities in Alaska have stimulated the deployment of
more than 200 isolated microgrids, with fast evolution from diesel generator-based
power supply to a generation mix with a high penetration level of renewable energy.

M

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MELE.2017.2685958
Date of publication: 31 May 2017

56

I E E E E l e c t r i f i cati o n M agaz ine / j un e 2017

game board: ©istockphoto.com/denis_pc
power items:©istockphoto.com/ neyro2008

2325-5987/17©2017IEEE


http://www.istockphoto.com/denis_pc

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