Page 215 - Hybrid-Renewable Energy Systems in Microgrids

P. 215

Smart grid and power quality 10

issues

Amalorpavaraj Rini Ann Jerin*, Natarajan Prabaharan**, Nallapaneni Manoj
†
Kumar , Kaliannan Palanisamy*, Subramaniam Umashankar*, Pierluigi Siano ‡
*VIT University, Vellore, India; **Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science,
†
‡
Madanapalle, India; Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Malaysia; University of
Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

1 Introduction

Smart Grids are going to replace the traditional concept of electrical networks in order
to satisfy the increasing needs in terms of flexibility, accessibility, reliability, and qual-
ity of the power supply. Economy and energy efficiency are the paradigms followed to
exploit the available distributed energy resources (DERs), guaranteeing technical and
environment-friendly standards. Obviously, the path to Smart Grids is complicated by
the increasing heterogeneity of Smart Grid components, such as renewable, storage
systems, fossil-fueled generators, and controllable loads [1]. Fortunately, the synergic
interaction between DERs and information and communication technologies (ICT)
foster the coordination among different infrastructures, promoting the development of
Smart Grids at both theoretical and practical levels.
The major highlights of utilizing smart grids are the capacity to self-heal from
power quality (PQ) issues, efficient energy management, incorporation of automation
based on ICT and smart metering, integration of distributed power generation, renew-
able energy resources, and storage units [2]. The advantages contribute to maintain
good PQ and to maintain the reliability. In this regard, the concept of microgrid is
brought to the stage as one of the main building blocks of the future smart grids [3].
PQ has emerged as a standout among the most essential issues of smart grid [4].
Although PQ has been a well-known concern of the conventional power grid, it has
acquired exceptional concern in smart grids predominantly because of the following rea-
sons:
• Expanding utilization of delicate loads and control forms as of late.
• Expansion of various nonlinear and single-stage loads which may antagonistically influence
the PQ.
• Accessibility of cutting edge metering, detecting and control functionalities in smart grids
which can be used to give an alluring PQ level for purchasers.
The term power quality is used to describe the nonstationary disturbances, which
cause the major malfunctioning of the electrical equipments. Operation of the electric
loads without the proper power causes the electrical devices or loads to malfunction,

210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220