Microgrids require control and protection systems. The design of both systems must consider the system topology, what generation and/or storage resources can be connected, and microgrid operational states (including grid-connected, islanded, and transitions between the two). Operating and protecting the microgrid throughout these system variations requires carefully selecting control and protection equipment, schemes, and settings. Different approaches may be used to detect events in or near microgrids, properly operate, and reliably protect the microgrid, its equipment, and the surrounding area’s electric power system.
Active Committees/Task Forces of Interest
- IEEE Std P2030.12 Draft Guide for the Design of Microgrid Protection Systems.
- This Working Group is under IEEE PES Power System Relaying and Control Committee, System Protection Subcommittee – C38.
- Estimated completion of the draft guide is late 2025.
- Chair: S. S. (Mani) Venkata
Technical Reports & Applicable Papers or Presentations
- PES Resource Center
- IEEE Xplore
- Review of Networked Microgrid Protection: Architectures, Challenges, Solutions, and Future Trends (CSEE Journal of Power and Energy Systems, Volume: 10, Issue: 2, March 2024)
- An Extensive Review On Microgrid Protection Issues, Techniques And Solutions (2021 9th IEEE International Conference on Power Systems)
- Microgrid protection: An overview of protection strategies in North American microgrid projects (2017 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting)
- Microgrid Protection Challenges and Mitigation Approaches–A Comprehensive Review (IEEE Access, Volume: 10)
Publications
- Status of Microgrid Protection and Related Standards and Codes: Protection Supports Integration
(IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Volume: 15, Issue: 4, July-Aug. 2017) - Microgrid Protection Against Internal Faults: Challenges in Islanded and Interconnected Operation
(IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, May-June 2021) - Practical Microgrid Protection Solutions: Promises and Challenges
(IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, May-June 2021) - Influence of Inverter-Based Resources on Microgrid Protection: Part 1: Microgrids in Radial Distribution Systems
(IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, May-June 2021) - Influence of Inverter-Based Resources on Microgrid Protection: Part 2: Secondary Networks and Microgrid Protection
(IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, May-June 2021)
Other Available Material
- Additional PES Resource Center document, which covers DER Integration and Microgrids:
- IEEE Standards
- IEEE Std 1547TM-2018 – IEEE Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces
- This is the basic standard for interconnection of DER applications in the Electric Power System (EPS), with multiple related standards in the series.
- IEEE Std 2030TM-2011 – Guide for Smart Grid interoperability of Energy Technology and Information Technology Operation with the Electric Power System (EPS), End-Use Applications, and Loads
- This is the basic standard for Smart Grid applications in the EPS with multiple related standards in the series.
- IEEE Std 2030.7TM – 2017 – IEEE Standard for the Specification of Microgrid Controllers
- IEEE Std 1547TM-2018 – IEEE Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces