DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

&
SMART GRIDS

Dr. G. Murugananth M.E., Ph.D., MIE., MISTE, MSAE.,

Professor & Head,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology,
Palakkad - 678557
 Introduction
• Problems faced by Conventional Power Systems
• Depletion of fossil fuel resources
• Poor energy efficiency
• Environmental pollution

• Solution – Distributed Generation

 Distributed Generation
• Generating power locally at distribution voltage level.

• Using non-conventional/renewable energy sources like natural gas, biogas, wind power, solar
photovoltaic cells, fuel cells, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, micro turbines, and
Stirling engines and their integration into the utility distribution network.

• This type of power generation is termed as Distributed generation (DG) and the energy
sources are termed as Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).

 The term ‘Distributed Generation’ has been devised to distinguish this concept of generation
from centralized conventional generation.

 The distribution network becomes active with the integration of DG and hence is termed as
Active Distribution Network (AND).
 Common Attributes of DG

• Not centrally planned by the power utility, nor centrally dispatched.

• Normally smaller than 50 MW.

• The power sources or distributed generators are usually connected to

the distribution system, which are typically of voltages 230/415 V

up to 145 kV.
 Why integration of DG?
Technical, Economic and Environmental benefits of DG
• Depletion of Fossil fuels leads to non-conventional energy resources
• Key factors – global warming and environmental pollution
• Global Warming
• Reduction of Green House Gases emission
• It counters climate change and global warming
• Environmental Pollution
• Reduction of environmental pollution
• It counters climate change and global warming
• Utilization Policies
• Proper utilization of renewable energy resources
• DERs generates clean power with less environmental impact
 Integration of DGs
• Scope for setting up co-generation, trigeneration or CHP

• CHP – utilizes the waste heat for industrial/domestic/commercial applications

• Increases the overall energy efficiency of the plant

• Reduces thermal pollution of the environment.

• Lower energy density and dependence on geographical conditions – DGs are

deigned as modular units of small capacity

• Geographical locations – connects local loads – increases technical and

economic viability of plants
• For example, CHP plants must be placed very close to their heat
loads, as transporting waste heat over long distances is not
economical. This makes it easier to find sites for them and helps to
lower construction time and capital investment. Physical proximity
of load and source also reduces the transmission and distribution
losses.
• Since power is generated at low voltage (LV), it is possible to connect
a DER separately to the utility distribution network or they may be
interconnected in the form of Microgrids. The Microgrid can again
be connected to the utility as a separate semi-autonomous entity.
 Integration of DGs
Stand-alone and grid-connected operations of DERs

–Help in generation augmentation (growth)

–Improves overall power quality and reliability

 Concept of Microgrid

• Micro grids are small-scale, LV CHP supply networks designed to

supply electrical and heat loads for a small community

• Ex: housing estate or a suburban locality, or an academic or public

community such as a university or school, a commercial area, an
industrial site, a trading estate or a municipal region.

• Micro grid - active distribution network because it is the conglomerate

of DG systems and different loads at distribution voltage level.
 Concept of Micro grid
• The generators or micro sources employed in a Micro grid are
usually renewable/non-conventional DERs integrated together to
generate power at distribution voltage.

• From operational point of view, the micro sources must be equipped

with power electronic interfaces (PEIs) and controls to provide the
required flexibility to ensure operation as a single aggregated system
and to maintain the specified power quality and energy output.

• This control flexibility would allow the Micro grid to present itself to
the main utility power system as a single controlled unit that meets
local energy needs for reliability and security.
 Differences between - Microgrid and conventional power plant

• Micro sources are of much smaller capacity with respect to

the large generators in conventional power plants.

• Power generated at distribution voltage can be directly fed to

the utility distribution network.

• Micro sources are normally installed close to the customers’

premises so that the electrical/heat loads can be efficiently
supplied with satisfactory voltage and frequency profile and
negligible line losses.
 Advantages
• Technical Features makes it suitable to supply power for any remote
areas where feeding power from gird is difficult or disturbances due to
climate or man-made disturbances,
• From Grid point of view – it’s a controlled entity that can be operated as a
single aggregated load.
• From customers point of view - beneficial for locally meeting their
electrical/heat requirements.
– They can supply uninterruptible power, improve local reliability,
reduce feeder losses and provide local voltage support.
• From environmental point of view – reduces environment pollution &
global warming through utilization of low-carbon technology
 Problems associated with Microgrids
Some problem areas that would require due attention are
The intermittent and climate-dependent nature of
generation of the DERs

Low energy content of the fuels.

Lack of standards and regulations for operating the

Micro grids in synchronism with the power utility.
 CHP Heat Non -CHP Storage
Configuration of Microgrid source load source device
Main grid Micro grid MC MC MC

415V Main grid bus

CB1
Feeder A

Distribution
Transformer
in main grid
6kV/415kV
From 6kVmain grid bus

SCB SCB

CB4 CB2 Feeder B

MC Storage
CHP Heat device Non-CHP
source load source
MC MC MC
CB3
Feeder C

SCB SCB
CC-central controller
MC-microsource controller
SCB-Section listing circuit breaker
CHP-Combined heat and power Fig:1.1 A typical Microgrid Configuration
 Operating Modes of Microgrid
• Grid Connected
• Stand-alone
In grid-connected mode, the Microgrid remains connected to the main grid either totally or
partially, and imports or exports power from or to the main grid.

In case of any disturbance in the main grid, the Microgrid switches over to stand-alone
mode while still feeding power to the priority loads. This can be achieved by either
(i) disconnecting the entire Microgrid by opening CB4
(ii) disconnecting feeders A and C by opening CB1 and CB3.

For option (i), the Microgrid will operate as an autonomous system with all the
microsources feeding all the loads in feeders A, B and C, whereas for option (ii), feeders A
and C will supply only the priority loads while feeder B will be left to ride through the
disturbance.
 AC and DC Microgrids

• DERs - wind, tidal and hydro produces variable

AC output voltage
• DERs – photovoltaic (PV) system and fuel cells
produces DC output voltage
• Interconnecting them gives AC or DC microgrids
 DG
AC Mircogrid Systems PV
arrays unit-2
Hydro- DG
turbine
Utility grid Micro grid unit-1 MC

AC MC
AC
loads loads DC/AC
converter
PCC CB2
From
utility 6kV/415V
grid Distribution CB1 LVAC line
transformer
CC

CB3
LVAC line Sensitive
load

PEI MC
AC/DC
converter
MC DG
WECS
unit-3
DC Storage
loads device
Fig 1.2:Typical AC Mircogrid configuration
 AC Mircogrid Systems
• Consists of DG units and storage devices which are interconnected.
• Small AC microgrid is formed with interconnecting loads and DG units.
• DG units produces DC voltage and are converted to AC through DC/AC converter
• DG units producing AC are connected to network through a transformer.
• Grid Connected Mode:
• Two networks are interconnected at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) while the
loads are supplied from micro sources and if necessary from the utility.
• If power produced by DG > power demand by load, surplus power will be exported to
the utility grid.
• A fast switch can be placed in between utility grid and PCC at the cut off point between
utility grid and microgrid.
– Comparing with conventional power grid, the major difference is the emergence of Storage
Devices and DGs.
 Fuel PV
DC Mircogrid Systems cells arrays
DG AC
Utility grid Micro grid DG
unit-1 loads unit-2
DC
loads MC
DC/AC
converter MC

PCC CB2
From
utility 6kV/415V
grid Distribution CB1 LVDC line
transformer
CC

CB3
LVDC line Sensitive
load

DC/AC PEI AC/DC

converter converter

MC
MC

AC Storage
loads DG WECS
device
Fig 1.3:Typical DC Mircogrid configuration unit-3
 DC Mircogrid Systems
• Employed for over long distances via sea cables, industrial power
distribution systems, point-to-point transmissions, telecommunication
infrastructures and for interconnecting AC grids of different frequencies.
• Loads connected include – Fluorescent lamps, radio, mobile charges,
computers, Adjustable Speed Drives etc.
• Available AC has to be converted to DC
• In conventional grid systems the DC generated from DGs has to be
converted to AC and connected to network. Then at consumer end, it has
to be converted to DC.
• Results in power loss from DC-AC-DC conversion.
• To avoid it DC micro grids are formed, interconnecting loads and DC
generating DGs.
• DC mico gird is made attractive due to the technical advancements in
HVDC operation.
• Currently, LVDC network are coming into existence.
• Low voltage DC links are based on bipolar configuration where loads are
connected between tow polarities or across the positive polarity and the
ground.
• It facilitates
– More DG connections
– Guarantees higher power quality to the consumers.
• Measuring Instruments such as Demand Energy Managements (DEMs),
advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMIs) and protection systems can also be
incorporated into the power converters.
• Integration of these instruments
• Improve power quality
• Reduces system losses and down time
• Reduces protection malfunctions
Power from DC units or substations or storage devices can be transmitted
through

• Monopolar link configuration (single cable)

• Bipolar link configuration (two cables)
• Homopolar link configuration (three or more cables)
 Monopolar DC Link

HVDC CABLE

AC AC/DC DC/AC AC
SYSTEM CONVERTER CONVERTER SYSTEM

Station 1 Station 2

Fig1.4: MONOPOLAR DC LINK CONFIGURATION

 Monopolar DC Link

• Employs one HV conductor with a sea-return or ground-return

• Economic way of power transmission
• High current returning through ground causes corrosion of pipelines and
other buried metal objects.
• Metallic return can also be employed – concerns for harmonic interface
and/or corrosion exist.
• Operated with negative polarity – as to reduce corona effects.
 Bipolar DC Link
AC
system
Industrial
1-Ф or 3-Ф
supply
AC supply
DC/DC DC/DC
converter converter

+LVDC
AC AC/DC N 220V DC/DC DG
system converter 220V
converter unit
-LVDC
Station
DC/DC
converter
DC load
DC load

Fig1.5 :Bipolar DC Link configuration

 Bipolar DC Link
• Employs two conductors operating – one at +ve polarity and other at -ve
polarity
• At the ends the converters are grounded.
• Consists of two sets of power converters of equal ratings at each terminal
in series on the DC side.
• Under usual operation both poles works with equal current and so ground
current becomes zero.
• Also facilitates for a little time, the monopolar operation with half power
rating of the devices.
 Homopolar DC Link
AC
system
Industrial
1-Ф or 3-Ф
supply
AC supply
DC/DC DC/DC
converter converter

+LVDC
AC AC/DC N 320V DC/DC DG
system converter 320V
converter unit
-LVDC

Station
DC/DC
converter
DC load
DC load

Fig 1.6:Homopolar DC Link configuration

 Homopolar DC Link

• Employs two or more conductors with same polarity.

• Usually –ve polarities with metallic return or ground return is preferred.
• Advantages – reduced insulation cost.
• Disadvantages – earth return
• Employs three-wire system due to its highest efficiency factor for DC
distribution from substation to the consumers.
• Consists of 2 outer wires and 1 neutral wire.
• Voltage is divided between two sets formed by these three wires
 Comparison of AC and DC Micro grid
Types of Micro grid AC DC
Cost of converters High Low
Controllability Difficult Simple
Difficult to guarantee Guaranteed smooth DC
Reliability power supply
Load availability High Low
Transmission efficiency Low High
Conversion efficiency Low High

Table 1.1:Comparison of DC and AC micro grid

 Interconnection of micro grid

Utility grid Energy router

Fig 1.7 : Energy router based interconnecting framework for the micro grids system
 Advantages
• Resolves the problem of instantaneous energy deficiency or surplus by
complementary energy exchange between neighboring microgrids.
• Ensures reliability and quality power by proper protection such that the
isolation guarantees that any frequency or voltage variation at one end
of the energy will have no direct impact on the other side
• Improves the architecture from conventional to more interactive and
connective framework.
• Leads pathway to the building of internet of energy of the future.
 Technical and Economical Advantages of Micro grid
• Related to environment – Integration of DERs
• Reduces no. of Thermal and nuclear power stations
• Reduces total particulate and gaseous emission and nuclear waste
• Reduces global warming and environmental pollution
• Related to Operation and Investment – Physical proximity of loads and micro
source helps in
• Enhancing the voltage profile by improving reactive power support
• Reducing T&D Feeder congestion and losses by 3%
• Reducing investments for expansion of generation and transmission systems by proper asset
management.
• Related to reliability and power quality
• Decentralization of power generating units
• Better match of Demand and Supply
• Reducing large-scale generation and transmission
• Enhancing restoration process and minimizing down times through black-start operation of
micro sources.
• Related to economy –
– Utilizes waste heat in CHP mode for heating purpose. Increases energy efficiency
above 80% as compared to conventional power system which has 40% efficiency.
– Integration of several microsources – reduces overall cost.

• Related to Energy Market

• Reduces cost of power
• Microgrids provide supplementary services
• Proper economic balance between DG utilization and network investment decreases the
long-term electricity prices by about 10%.
Operational and Management Issues of a Micro gird
• To maintain power quality – balance between active and reactive power must be
maintained
• Operator must choose the mode of operation within the proper regulatory framework
• Load demand, long term energy balance, generation, storage and supply of energy must
be properly planned.
• Control, protection and metering should be based on SCADA systems
• Economic operation must be guaranteed through generation scheduling, economic load
dispatch and optimal power flow operations
• System security must be maintained through contingency analysis and emergency
operations
• Suitable communication protocols and infrastructure must be employed for overall
energy management, control and protection
 Challenges and Disadvantages
• High Cost of installation
• Technical Difficulties
– Lack of technical experience in controlling huge number of plug-and-play
microsources
– Needs research on protection control and management aspects of microgrids
and choice of placement and sizing of microsources
– Lack of appropriate communication infrastructure in rural areas
– Economic implementation of seamless switching between operating modes
• Absence of proper standards
– Standards of power quality data for different type of sources, safety and
protection guidelines
– Protocols for integration of microsources and deregulation of power markets
• Administrative & Legal barriers
• Market Monopoly – control of energy prices – over pricing
 Evolution of Smart Grid

Smart grid(interconnected
network of micro grids with
Functionality

Distributed control)

Two way automated

metering infrastructure(AMI)

One way automated meter

reading(AMR)

Electromechanical
meters

Return on investments

Fig1.9: The evolution of Smart Grid

Table 1.2:Major components of smart grid

-AMI(network and meters)

Nerves
-Advanced visualisation and grid sensing technology

-DR(via. Dynamic pricing)

-Building energy management systems(EMS)
Brains
-Data management systems (DMS)
-End – use energy efficiency

-DGs from CHP ,renewable and other sources

Muscle
-Energy storage technologies (including PHEVs)

-New transmission lines(superconducting and HVDC)

Bones
-new substation equipment's and transformers
Comparison Between Conventional Utility Grid
and Smart Grid
 Table 1.3 comparison of conventional utility grid and
smart grid
Characteristics Conventional utility grid Smart grid

Active participation consumer Consumers are uninformed and they do Consumers are involved ,informed and
not participate participate actively

Provision of power quality for the Response to power quality issues are Rapid resolution of power quality
division of economy low issues with priority

Many obstacles exist for integration of Many DERs with plug-and-play option
Accommodation of all generation
DERs can be integrated at any time

Little incorporation of operational data Greatly expanded data acquisition of

Optimization of assets with asset management –business grid parameters ;focus on prevention
process silos ,minimizing impact to consumers
 Limited and poorly integrated Mature and well integrated wholesale
New products , service and markets wholesale markets ; limited markets ; growth of new electricity
opportunities for consumers markets for consumers

Resilient to cyber attack and natural

Resiliency against cyber attack and Vulnerable to malicious acts of terror
disasters ; rapid restoration capabilities
natural disasters and natural disasters ; slow response

Responds to prevent further damage; Automatically detects and responds to

Anticipating responses to system
Focus on protecting assets following a problems ; focus on prevention ;
disturbances(self-healing)
fault minimizing impact to consumers

Topology Mainly radial Network

Restoration Manual Decentralized control

Based on static ,offline models and Proactive , real-time predictions , more

Reliability
simulations actual system data

Power flow control Limited More extensive


Generation
Operation and maintenance
Interaction with energy users
System communications
Reaction time
Centralized
Manual and dispatching
Limited to large energy users
Limited to power companies
Slow reaction time
Centralized and distributed .
Substantial RES and energy
storage
Distributed monitoring ,
diagnostics and predictive
Extensive two-way
communications
Expanded and real-time
Extremely quick reaction time
Smart Grid Architecture
Markets Operations Utilities
Retailer/ RTO/ISO RTO/ISO
RTO/ISO Third party
wholesaler operations operations Utility provider
operations MDMS
EMS provider
Aggregator EMS EMS WAMS Asset Retail CIS
DR mgmt CIS Energy
provider Billing
Energy Enterprise Enterprise
operations
bus
Enterprise
bus Billing Home/building
management bus
clearing house manager

Metering Distribution Aggregator

RTO/ Transmission
ISO/RTO System system
SCADA SCADA Internet/
participant e-business
Others

Internet /
Market e-business
services
Data Energy Electric
interfaces
services vehicle
collector Appliances
interface
Plant
Control Substation Field Storage
system Meter devices
controller device
Consumer Thermostat
Generator Substation equipment
device Storage DG
Bulk generation
device DG Consumer EMS
Actor Domain Transmission consumer
Distribution
Communication path changes
Domain gateway actor Communication path
 Opportunities of Smart Grid
• Upgrading and expanding infrastructure to improve
interconnectivity and communications.
• Build up smart tools and technologies to exploit DR, demand
load control and energy efficiency.
• Promote smart grid investment and inform regulatory frameworks
• Build up infrastructure to guarantee cyber security and resilience.
• Regulations in communication, price and cyber security.
 Local Opportunities of Smart Grid
• Integrated Communications
– Data acquisition, protection and control and allowing consumers to interact
– Connect components in real-time for control and data exchange
– Scope for improvement – Substation Automation, DR, Feeder automation,
SCADA, EMSs, wireless mesh networks and other technologies, power-line
carrier communications and fiber optics.
• Sensing and measurement
– Support acquiring data for healthy and integrity of grid
– Support faster and more accurate response
• Advanced Components
• Advanced Control Methods
• Improved interfaces and decision support
 Regional and National Opportunities of Smart Grid
• Provide high quality power

• Accommodate all generation and energy storage options

• Motivate consumers to actively participate in grid operations.

• Be self-healing

• Resist attack.
 Global Opportunities of Smart Grid

• Run the gird more efficiently

• Enable higher penetration of intermittent power generation sources

• Enable electricity market to flourish

 Key Challenges of Smart Grid
• Strengthening of utility grid – should ensure high and efficient
transmission capacity to accommodate more energy sources
• Moving offshore – Effective and efficient connection of wind farms,
tidal and wave energy
• Developing decentralized architecture – enable harmonious
operation of small-scale electricity supply system with total system
• Communications – should allows the operation and trade potentially
in single market
• Advanced Demand Side – Enable consumers to play active role in
system operation
• Integrating intermittent generation – Finding best ways to integrate
intermittent generation like residential micro-generation
 Key Challenges of Smart Grid
• Enhanced intelligence of generations
• Advanced power monitoring and control – enable synchronized phasor
measurements and control to achieve efficient synchronization
• Capturing the benefits of DG and Storage – Develop more advanced
technologies for DERs.
• Ensure reliable operation of SPV-Wind, SPV-fuel cells etc.. In remote
areas.
• Preparing for electric vehicles