This paper describes and evaluates the feasibility of control strategies to be adopted for the operation of a microgrid when it becomes isolated. Normally, the microgrid operates in interconnected mode with the medium voltage network; however, scheduled or forced isolation can take place. In such conditions, the microgrid must have the ability to operate stably and autonomously. An evaluation of the need of storage devices and load shedding strategies is included in this paper.

This paper proposes a new methodology for coordinated voltage support in distribution networks with large integration of distributed generation and microgrids. Given the characteristics of the LV networks, it is shown that traditional control strategies using only reactive power control may not be sufficient in order to perform efficient voltage control. Therefore, microgeneration shedding must also be employed, especially in scenarios with extreme microgeneration penetration. An optimisation tool based on a meta-heuristic approach was developed to address the voltage control problem. In addition, neural networks were employed in order to decrease computational time, thus enabling the use of the tool for online operation. The results obtained revealed good performance of this control approach.

Local Energy Communities (LECs) can facilitate the transition towards sustainable and clean energy system infrastructure. In this work, we construct a novel hierarchical energy management framework for an LEC equipped with a community energy storage (CES) installation. The proposed two-stage approach involves end-users making self-driven, cost-optimal decisions (first stage) and said decisions being further coordinated through the CES in service of boosting the LEC’s self-consumption and self-sufficiency (second stage). By complementing the approach with a real-time, predictive, envelope-based methodology for LEC flexibility quantification, a rigorous cost structure for flexibility procurement is established. The LEC is further considered to be providing higher-level ancillary services to the wider power grid, through the load flexibility provision and CES capacity sharing. The efficacy and superior performance of the proposed approach are demonstrated in an exhaustive case study. This includes a detailed comparison with conventional centralized approaches and a comprehensive analysis of the financial and environmental benefits that this envisioned LEC variant can ultimately achieve.

The main objective of this paper is to present the development of microsource modelling and the definition of control strategies to be adopted to evaluate the feasibility of operation of a microgrid when it becomes isolated. Normally, the microgrid operates in interconnected mode with the MV network, however scheduled or forced isolation can take place. In such conditions, the microgrid must have the ability to operate stably and autonomously. An evaluation of the need of storage devices and load-shedding strategies is included in the paper.