Microgrids for Disruptive Events: Components, Requirements, and Evaluation Metrics

• Grant number: 24/21083-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Visiting researcher: Osvaldo Ronald Saavedra Mendez
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia (CCET), Brazil
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11380-5 - CPTEn - São Paulo Center for the Study of Energy Transition, AP.CCD

Abstract

Microgrids are often cited as fundamental elements for the energy transition, with the potential to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electricity service provided to society. On one hand, they can significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the energy system. On the other hand, they possess attributes that make them well-suited to withstand disruptive events, such as climate change, natural disasters, vandalism, terrorist actions, and energy supply contingencies. For microgrids to truly become the building blocks of the energy transition, it is crucial that they evolve into 100% renewable configurations and have the attribute of energy resilience to handle disruptive events from diverse origins.These goals-or requirements-place substantial pressure on the development of advanced energy storage technologies and intelligent control systems that can integrate these aspects, ensuring that microgrids provide viable and attractive solutions for multiple applications. Thus, this work reviews, formulates, and proposes solutions to the main challenges faced by microgrids, aiming to balance the need to supply clean and sustainable energy with the demand for reliability and resilience in consumer service. Resilience metrics for microgrids are identified and analyzed, with a special focus on applications for critical infrastructures and effective response to disruptive events. (AU)