Decision Support System for Emergencies in Microgrids

The usual operation of a microgrid (MG) may often be challenged by emergencies related to extreme weather conditions and technical issues. As a result, the operator often needs to adapt the MG’s management by either: (i) excluding disconnected components, (ii) switching to islanded mode or (iii) performing a black start, which is required in case of a blackout, followed by either direct reconnection to the main grid or islanded operation. The purpose of this paper is to present an optimal Decision Support System (DSS) that assists the MG’s operator in all the main possible sorts of emergencies, thus providing an inclusive solution. The objective of the optimizer, developed in Pyomo, is to maximize the autonomy of the MG, prioritizing its renewable production. Therefore, the DSS is in line with the purpose of the ongoing energy transition. Furthermore, it is capable of taking into account multiple sorts of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including Renewable Energy Sources (RES), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)—which can only be charged with renewable energy—and local, fuel-based generators. The proposed DSS is applied in a number of emergencies considering grid-forming and grid-following mode, in order to highlight its effectiveness and is verified with the use of PowerFactory, DIgSILENT