Modeling an electric power microgrid by model predictive control for analyzing its characteristics from reliability, controllability and topological perspectives

Microgrids can be a key solution for integrating renewable and distributed energy resources. This article analyzes microgrids’ characteristics adopting model predictive control. We study the microgrid performance under two operation modes: grid-connected and stand-alone. For each mode, we consider different faulty scenarios, and by dynamic simulations, we investigate the importance of the microgrid components from different perspectives: topological, reliability and controllability. This analysis enables evaluation of the microgrid performance and quantification of the importance of each component with respect to the different perspectives considered. The findings provide information for the design and operation of a microgrid, seeking the right balance of multiple characteristics.