Elsevier

Applied Energy

Volume 228, 15 October 2018, Pages 1656-1668
Applied Energy

A review of microgrid development in the United States – A decade of progress on policies, demonstrations, controls, and software tools

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.06.096Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Conduct comprehensive literature review of U.S. microgrid development in the recent decade.

  • Discuss U.S. progress on microgrid policies, demonstration projects, control methods, and software tools.

  • Summarize key successful experience of U.S. microgrid development.

Abstract

Microgrids have become increasingly popular in the United States. Supported by favorable federal and local policies, microgrid projects can provide greater energy stability and resilience within a project site or community. This paper reviews major federal, state, and utility-level policies driving microgrid development in the United States. Representative U.S. demonstration projects are selected and their technical characteristics and non-technical features are introduced. The paper discusses trends in the technology development of microgrid systems as well as microgrid control methods and interactions within the electricity market. Software tools for microgrid design, planning, and performance analysis are illustrated with each tool’s core capability. Finally, the paper summarizes the successes and lessons learned during the recent expansion of the U.S. microgrid industry that may serve as a reference for other countries developing their own microgrid industries.

Section snippets

Introduction and background

Microgrids have become increasingly popular in the United States. About 34% of the world’s microgrid projects are located in the United States and North America area – drivers for this fast growth could include the country’s aging electricity megagrid and end-use customers’ increasing desire for greater security and reliability [1]. In the past decade, the U.S. government and industry have established supporting policies, demonstration projects, control systems research, and the development of

Federal level activity

Federal policy efforts promote the research and development of microgrids, aiming to provide more reliable, flexible, efficient, resilient, affordable, and secure power systems. The Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) within the U.S. DOE is the core organization in supporting microgrid R&D activities. Over the last decade, DOE has funded a broad portfolio of activities in microgrid design and economic analysis tools, system testing, and demonstration programs, many of

Microgrid case studies

As described, microgrid development and deployment have been accelerating in recent years as a result of initiatives from federal programs, institutions, and private sectors. These demonstration projects share the common objectives of verifying the microgrid benefits and reducing implementation risks, and, in general, further improving the reliability and resilience of the grid to ensure a sustainable energy future for the nation [30], [63]. These goals have been pursued in several ways [63]:

CERTS definition

The goal of the CERTS program is to conduct research to improve power system reliability, test the performance of emerging technologies, and understand microgrid system economic, regulatory-institutional, and environmental influence [14]. A defining factor of CERTS requires a microgrid to be a self-controlled entity that can be operated as a single aggregated load [18]. This feature of a CERTS project is in line with microgrid definitions from DOE and CIGRE, as discussed in Section 11. CERT

Software and tools developed in U.S. Microgrid research

Software and tools are developed in the United States to support microgrid project development and operations [101]. Demonstration projects often require simulation to determine microgrid investment, construction, and operation strategies. This section reviews some key microgrid software developed by U.S. research institutes, focusing on the tools’ capabilities, functions, and strength. Software discussed in this section are tools often found in public domain and have been widely applied. Many

Conclusion

In summary, microgrid development in the United States show that it needs active government policies at different levels, programs featuring funding and demonstration projects to showcase technological and economic feasibility, advanced research on distributed energy resource technologies and controls, and software tools to assist in design and performance analysis.

Many other countries are striving for microgrid development and demonstration. The following recommendations can be made based on

Acknowledgments

The U.S. authors recognize Berkeley Lab’s support from DOE – The United States under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231 and by Energy Foundation. Assistance was also provided by Tianjin Electric Power Corporation, China, through research materials and guidance.

References (128)

  • X. Lu et al.

    Bronzeville community microgrids: a reliable, resilient and sustainable solution for integrated energy management with distribution systems

    Electr J

    (2015)
  • Wilson Adam, Asmus Peter. Microgrid Deployment Tracker 4Q17, Navigant;...
  • John Romankiewicz et al.

    International microgrid assessment: governance, incentives, and experience (IMAGINE)

    (2013)
  • Marnay Chris, Aki Hirohisa, Hirose Keiichi, Kwasinski Alexis, Ogura Saori, Shinji Takao. Japan’s pivot to resilience....
  • Keiichi Hirose

    Behavior of the Sendai microgrid during and after the 311 Great East Japan Disaster

    Telecommunications energy conference 'Smart Power and Efficiency' (INTELEC)

    (2013)
  • Energy Foundation. Research on key technologies and development of distributed smart microgrid. Research Report; 2012...
  • Energy Foundation. Recommendations on Implementation scheme for demonstration of microgrid Technology in China during...
  • S. Prasenjit Basak et al.

    A literature review on integration of distributed energy resources in the perspective of control, protection and stability of microgrid

    Renew Sustain Energy Rev

    (2012)
  • Pesin Michael. U.S. Department of Energy Electricity Grid Research and Development, presentation at the American...
  • CIGRÉ Working Group C.22). Microgrids 1, Engineering, Economics, & Experience. Paris, France. Ref. 635, October; 2015...
  • Mariam Lubna, Basu Malabika, Conlon Michael F. A review of existing microgrid architectures. J Eng 2013; Article ID...
  • Navigant Research. MG Deployment Tracker 4Q16; 2016....
  • Nikos Hatziargyriou et al.

    Microgrids

    IEEE Power Energy Mag

    (2007)
  • Hartono BS, Budiyanto, Setiabudy Rudy. Review of microgrid technology. Quality in research. IEEE;...
  • Bower Ward, Ton Dan, Guttromson Ross, Glover Steve, Stamp Jason, Bhatnagar Dhruv, et al. The Advanced Microgrid...
  • Lasseter Robert, Akhil Abbas, Marnay Chris, Stephens John, Dagle Jeff, Guttromson Ross, et al. The CERTS MicroGrid...
  • Hatziargyriou Nikos. Microgrids: architectures and control. John Wiley & Sons, IEEE Press. Dec 6;...
  • Li Wang, Lee Dong-Jing. Load-tracking performance of an autonomous SOFC-based hybrid power generation/energy storage...
  • Peças Lopes, JA, Moreira CL, Madureira AG. Defining control strategies for microgrids islanded operation. IEEE Trans...
  • Cañizares Claudio A, Palma-Behnke Rodrigo. Trends in microgrid control IEEE-PES task force on microgrid control. IEEE...
  • Guerrero Josep M, Chandorkar Mukul, Lee Tzung-Lin, Loh Poh Chiang. Advanced control architectures for intelligent...
  • Guerrero Josep M, Loh Poh Chiang, Lee Tzung-Lin, Chandorkar Mukul. Advanced control architectures for intelligent...
  • Pourmousavi S Ali, Hashem Nehrir M. Real-time central demand response for primary frequency regulation in microgrids....
  • Saleh Mahmoud S, Althaibani Ammar, Esa Yusef, Mhandi Yassine, Mohamed Ahmed A. Impact of clustering microgrids on their...
  • Sinha Sunanda, Chandel SS. Review of software tools for hybrid renewable energy systems. Renew Sustain Energy Rev...
  • Gu Wei, Wu Zhi, Bo Rui, Liu Wei, Zhou Gan, Chen Wu, et al. Modeling, planning and optimal energy management of combined...
  • U.S. DOE. https://energy.gov/oe;...
  • Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration Program...
  • Marnay Chris, DeForest Nicholas, Lai Judy. A Green Prison: The Santa Rita Jail Campus Microgrid panel paper. In: IEEE...
  • U.S. DOE. Enhancing the smart grid: integrating clean distributed and renewable generation...
  • SPIDERS Joint Capability Technology Demonstration; 2015....
  • Energy Surety Microgrids™ Supporting Renewable Technologies and Energy Assurance...
  • Bonneville Power Authority. Power grid gets smarter with new Oregon MG.” June....
  • ...
  • Liu Xu, Marnay Chris, Feng Wei, Zhou Nan, Karali Nihan. A review of the ARRA smart grid projects and their implications...
  • Dan Ton et al.

    Microgrid controller initiatives

    IEEE Power Energy

    (2017)
  • Geza Joos, Reilly Jim, Bower Ward, Neal Russ. The need for standardization. IEEE Power Energy Mag July/August 2017;...
  • Title XVII Supplement III regarding Distributed Energy Projects. August 24; 2015....
  • U.S. DOE Loan Programs Office....
  • U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships....
  • Cited by (121)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text