Nested Microgrids: Operation and Control Requirements

Abstract

Nested Microgrids refers to operation of multiple interconnected microgrids. It is based on the idea that multiple microgrids can be connected and disconnected depending on the operation and control requirements. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges of Nested Microgrids operation with a decentralized microgrid control system. The controller interactions to exchange control parameters and measured network values across microgrids are investigated in this paper. Two key microgrid control functions, islanding, resynchronization are scrutinized to identify the coordinated control and communication requirement among the microgrid controllers and two more, load shed on generator overload and black start are discussed. The implementations of the proposed control functions are validated with time domain simulation in a Nested Microgrids test system.