Several issues have been reported with the expansion of the electric power grid and the increasing use of intermittent power sources, such as the need for expensive transmission lines and the issue of cascading blackouts, which can adversely affect critical infrastructures. Microgrids (MG) has been widely accepted as a viable solution to improve grid reliability and resiliency, ensuring continuous power supply to loads. However, to ensure the effective operation of the Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Microgrids need to have Energy Management and Control Systems (EMCS). Therefore, considerable research has been conducted to achieve smooth profiles in grid parameters during operation at optimum running cost. This paper aims to provide a review of EMCS techniques that have evolved in recent years. Firstly, the fundamentals of microgrids are discussed for a general overview of the field. Then, a critical literature review is undertaken for the various methods applied for EM optimization in microgrid applications. Multiple factors have been explored in the objective functions throughout this review, including MG daily operational costs, energy storage degradation, revenue through trading with the grid or other parties, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. A review of control systems has been conducted next by categorizing them based on the different applications in MGs for stable operation. This paper also focuses on IEEE standards related to MG operation and control to facilitate other researchers to build upon a standardized set of rules and to enhance the interoperability of the diverse EMCS techniques.
To mitigate the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), governments around the world have imposed social distancing policies ranging from minor social activity suspensions to full curfews. These social distancing policies have altered electricity consumption behaviors in numerous countries. Many governments imposed strict social distancing policies during a temperature transition season where the impacts of temperature variations are particularly important for the operation of the electric grid. This paper studies how strict social distancing policies affect the relationship between electricity demand and ambient temperature. We first review the expected short- and long-term impacts of social distancing on the electricity demand. We then present a case study on the electricity demand of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during strict social distancing policies. The results of this case study suggest that strict social distancing policies result in a stronger correlation between temperature and electricity demand compared to previous years. Additionally, we observe a reduction in the time required for the electricity demand to respond to temperature changes. Power system regulators can use the results in this paper to better design energy policies. The results can also be used by power system operators to more accurately forecast electricity demands and avoid inefficient and insecure operation of the electric grid.
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