A generic microgrid controller: Concept, testing, and insights

The GMC specifications were demonstrated and evaluated using a commercial simulation platform for two different microgrids, a 20 MW-Class community microgrid and a 10 MW-Class medical center microgrid. For each microgrid, the GMC was tested in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) using an OPAL-RT real-time digital simulator, and the two core functions were assessed. The results established that (1) the GMC is successful in seamlessly transitioning the microgrids to and from an islanded mode, (2) a load/generation mismatch at the time of separation depends on the microgrid configuration and must be lower than a specific value determined by simulation testing, and (3) the GMC Dispatch Function response is acceptable in maintaining, in the islanded mode, 60 Hz for a range of load changes.