DC microgrid islands on ships

Since shipboard power systems are inherently islanded and consist of energy intensive sources and loads, it is an interesting application for dc microgrids. The object of this paper is to explore the merits of dc based shipboard power distribution as compared to conventional ac solutions. A survey of current initiatives, emerging concepts and design challenges is carried out. Based on the review, insight is offered on different aspects like efficiency, safety, and reliability and their relevant tradeoffs. It will be discussed how the interplay of reliability and availability, driven by the computational cost of optimization and restoration goals, forms the heart of reconfigurability.