Micro Grids

A stand-alone power network is a type of power supply network which is closed and has no active lines coupling it to other parts of the electrical power supply grid. A stand-alone network is markedly smaller than a combined electricity grid and does not usually incorporate high-voltage power lines. For this type of network, there are two distinct modes of operation, stand-alone mode, and isolated parallel or generator-to-generator operation. This type of supply network is frequently used for the industrial power supplies of large businesses.

When this stand-alone network is connected to a smart grid, it is referred to as a microgrid. This type of grid has three different operating modes: on-grid, off-grid and dual mode. Microgrids will be playing a huge role in the smart grids of tomorrow.

A microgrid features the following benefits:

• Transmission and transformer losses are reduced
• More independence from major power suppliers
• Smart grid act as a back-up system
• Intelligently controlled power supply and consumption thanks to SCADA
• Power generation using renewable energy sources
• Optimizing the quality, reliability, and sustainability of electricity

Micro Grid - Stand-alone operation

Training contents

• Fundamentals of isolated, stand-alone networks.
• Control of a generator in a stand-alone network.
• Coordination of energy needs and generating capacity in stand-alone networks.
• Use of modern information technology such as networked sensors/actuators, PLC control, and the SCADA operating environment
• "Smart metering" of a "slack bus" to make a sub-network autonomous.
• Manual control
• Voltage control
• Frequency control

Micro Grid - Isolated parallel operation

Training contents

• Control of multiple generators in a stand-alone network
• Control of multiple generators in parallel generation mode
• Coordination of energy needs and generating capacity in stand-alone networks.
• Use of modern information technology such as networked sensors/actuators, PLC control and the SCADA operating environment
• Smart metering of a "slack bus" to make a sub-network autonomous.
• Manual control
• Voltage control
• Frequency control
• Torque control
• Power factor (cos phi) control
• Droop control

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