Review of the current challenges and methods to mitigate power quality issues in single-phase microgrids

• Published in: IET generation, transmission & distribution transmission & distribution, 2019-06, Vol.13 (11), p.2044-2054
• Main Author: Micallef, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: combined power; current voltage harmonic distortion; DG units; distributed power generation; harmonic distortion; high‐energy efficiency; power distribution faults; power generation control; power quality aspects; power quality issues; power supply quality; reactive power exchange; renewable energy sources; single‐phase counterparts; single‐phase low‐voltage microgrids; single‐phase microgrids; Special Issue: Emerging Technologies for Virtual Power Plant and Microgrid; three‐phase microgrids
• ISSN: 1751-8687; 1751-8695; 1751-8695
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-gtd.2018.6020

Distributed generation (DG) in the form of renewable energy sources is being integrated into single-phase low-voltage (LV) microgrids to produce energy closer to the consumer. The formation of LV microgrids enables to achieve high-energy efficiency and improve the reliability of the electrical supply. However, the combined power which is injected by the DG units into the grid can cause power quality issues, particularly during islanded operation. The main power quality issues related to single-phase microgrids are: reactive power exchange; voltage and frequency fluctuation; and current and voltage harmonic distortion. Amongst the methods which were identified in the literature to mitigate these issues, primary and secondary control loops implemented in the DG units themselves are the most common solution to date. Emerging grid technologies such as the electrical spring have also been proposed as alternative technologies, which could potentially mitigate certain issues through the decentralised operation. Although various research studies have been proposed concerning power quality aspects in three-phase microgrids, not all of these solutions can be applied directly to their single-phase counterparts. The aim of this study is to investigate recent developments in this area and to provide a critical review of methods to mitigate power quality issues in single-phase microgrids.