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Microgrids and Its Application to Integrated Energy Systems and Islanded Active Distribution Networks, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 October 2025 | Viewed by 4683

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ionel Vechiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ESTIA Institute of Technology, University of Bordeaux, 64210 Bidart, France
Interests: energy and power conversion; model predictive control; digital twins; low-carbon technologies; dg hosting capacity; microgrid energy management systems; optimal microgrid planning; ancillary services in islanded microgrids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ignacio Hernando-Gil

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical Engineering, ESTIA Institute of Technology, 64210 Bidart, France
Interests: power systems reliability; network resiliency; distribution system planning; risk and uncertainty modelling; quality of supply performance; network reduction; low-carbon technologies; DG hosting capacity; network ancillary services; microgrid energy management systems; optimal microgrid planning; islanded microgrids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chenghong Gu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Interests: planning and operating resilient smart multi-vector energy systems of electricity; natural gas; heating/cooling, and transportation towards zero emissions by 2050 under the dramatic climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Future active distribution networks will incorporate a combination of distributed generators (DGs), microgrids (MGs), and different types of renewable-based distributed energy resources (DERs), allowing them to provide ancillary services in grid-connected mode and, if necessary, to operate in an islanded mode to increase network proactivity, continuity of supply, reliability, and resilience.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality research papers on the inter-disciplinary field of microgrid optimization under uncertainty, and targets new probabilistic methods (i.e., scalable computational solutions) for managing microgrid energy management systems (EMS), from long-term planning to real-time operation, with the introduction of a wide range of renewable energy technologies. Research sought includes innovative approaches to the analytical and simulation techniques for assessing the optimal operation and control of microgrids and DERs, while committing, holding, dispatching, and maintaining different ancillary services for the grid in a reliable and economical manner. Research can be extended to self-optimizing control solutions for building microgrids (BMGs) for integration in net-zero energy buildings, as well as electric mobility (vehicle-to-grid, V2G, or boat-to-grid, B2G) within maritime, island microgrids, or integrated port energy systems.

The scope includes the predictive maintenance and fault detection capabilities in hybrid (grid-connected and islanded) microgrids to ensure a smooth operation and maximize the self-consumption of renewable energy intermittency through predictive control, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or novel forecasting techniques.

This Special Issue aims to examine original research papers as well as review articles on the most recent developments and research efforts on this subject.

Prof. Dr. Ionel Vechiu
Dr. Ignacio Hernando-Gil
Dr. Chenghong Gu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • optimization under uncertainty
  • risk modelling
  • quality of supply assessment
  • grid resiliency performance
  • probabilistic network analysis
  • integration of RES
  • behind-the-meter energy storage systems
  • utility-scale storage systems
  • hydrogen-based energy storage systems
  • AC/DC microgrids
  • building microgrids
  • net-zero energy buildings (NZEB)
  • integrated port energy systems
  • island microgrids
  • maritime microgrids
  • microgrid clusters/communities
  • ancillary services under high variable RES penetration
  • ancillary services in islanded and grid-connected mode
  • vehicle-to-grid (V2G) or boat-to-grid (B2G)

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1144 KiB  
Article
Dispatch for the Industrial Micro-Grid with an Integrated Photovoltaic-Gas-Manufacturing Facility System Considering Carbon Emissions and Operation Costs
by Qian Wu and Qiankun Song
Energies 2025, 18(9), 2224; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18092224 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 210
Abstract
In this paper, the dispatch for the industrial micro-grid with an integrated photovoltaic-gas-manufacturing facility system considering carbon emissions and operation costs is investigated. Two kinds of energy, electricity and natural gas, are contained in the integer energy system, in which the electricity mainly [...] Read more.
In this paper, the dispatch for the industrial micro-grid with an integrated photovoltaic-gas-manufacturing facility system considering carbon emissions and operation costs is investigated. Two kinds of energy, electricity and natural gas, are contained in the integer energy system, in which the electricity mainly comes from the PV panels and the utility electricity network, and the natural gas mainly comes from the utility gas network. In addition, electricity and natural gas can be converted into each other. Four kinds of loads, electricity load, gas load, heating load and cooling load, need to be satisfied, in which the electricity load can be divided into fixed load and flexible load. The flexible load comes from the scheduling for manufacturing facilities, and the scheduling of manufacturing facilities is modeled as a kind of deferable load to be integrated into the energy system. Moreover, daily operation costs and carbon emissions are considered in the decision, and the deviation preference strategy is used to solve this multi-objective optimization problem. Finally, a case study with a lithium-ion battery assembly system is proposed. According to the results, it can be found that the proposed model can help managers realize effective scheduling of the industrial micro-grid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microgrids and Its Application to Integrated Energy Systems and Islanded Active Distribution Networks, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 960 KiB  
Article
Robust Energy Management Policies for Solar Microgrids via Reinforcement Learning
by Gerald Jones, Xueping Li and Yulin Sun
Energies 2024, 17(12), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17122821 - 8 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1160
Abstract
As the integration of renewable energy expands, effective energy system management becomes increasingly crucial. Distributed renewable generation microgrids offer green energy and resilience. Combining them with energy storage and a suitable energy management system (EMS) is essential due to the variability in renewable [...] Read more.
As the integration of renewable energy expands, effective energy system management becomes increasingly crucial. Distributed renewable generation microgrids offer green energy and resilience. Combining them with energy storage and a suitable energy management system (EMS) is essential due to the variability in renewable energy generation. Reinforcement learning (RL)-based EMSs have shown promising results in handling these complexities. However, concerns about policy robustness arise with the growing number of grid intermittent disruptions or disconnections from the main utility. This study investigates the resilience of RL-based EMSs to unforeseen grid disconnections when trained in grid-connected scenarios. Specifically, we evaluate the resilience of policies derived from advantage actor–critic (A2C) and proximal policy optimization (PPO) networks trained in both grid-connected and uncertain grid-connectivity scenarios. Stochastic models, incorporating solar energy and load uncertainties and utilizing real-world data, are employed in the simulation. Our findings indicate that grid-trained PPO and A2C excel in cost coverage, with PPO performing better. However, in isolated or uncertain connectivity scenarios, the demand coverage performance hierarchy shifts. The disruption-trained A2C model achieves the best demand coverage when islanded, whereas the grid-connected A2C network performs best in an uncertain grid connectivity scenario. This study enhances the understanding of the resilience of RL-based solutions using varied training methods and provides an analysis of the EMS policies generated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microgrids and Its Application to Integrated Energy Systems and Islanded Active Distribution Networks, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 2316 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Energy Consumption: A Case Study of LVDC Nanogrid Implementation in Tertiary Buildings on La Réunion Island
by Olivia Graillet, Denis Genon-Catalot, Pierre-Olivier Lucas de Peslouan, Flavien Bernard, Frédéric Alicalapa, Laurent Lemaitre and Jean-Pierre Chabriat
Energies 2024, 17(5), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051247 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1694
Abstract
In the context of an insulated area with a subtropical climate, such as La Réunion island, it is crucial to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and develop local renewable energy sources to achieve energy autonomy. Direct current (DC) nanogrids could facilitate this [...] Read more.
In the context of an insulated area with a subtropical climate, such as La Réunion island, it is crucial to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and develop local renewable energy sources to achieve energy autonomy. Direct current (DC) nanogrids could facilitate this by reducing the energy conversion steps, especially for solar energy. This article presents the deployment and efficiency evaluation of a 48 VDC low-voltage direct current (LVDC) nanogrid, from conception to real-world installation within a company. The nanogrid consists of a photovoltaic power plant, a lithium–iron–phosphate (LFP) battery, and DC end-use equipment, such as LED lighting and DC fans, for two individual offices. For identical test conditions, which are at an equivalent cabling distance and with the same final power demand, the total power consumed by the installation is measured for several stages from 50 to 400 W, according to a 100% DC configuration or a conventional DC/AC/DC PV configuration incorporating an inverter and AC/DC converter. The methodology used enables a critical view to be taken of the installation, assessing both its efficiency and its limitations. Energy savings of between 23% and 40% are measured in DC for a power limit identified at 150 W for a distance of 25 m. These results show that it is possible to supply 48 VDC in an innovative way to terminal equipment consuming no more than 100 W, such as lighting and air fans, using the IEEE 802.3 bt power over ethernet (PoE) protocol, while at the same time saving energy. The nanogrid hardware and software infrastructure, the methodology employed for efficiency quantification, and the measurement results are described in the paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microgrids and Its Application to Integrated Energy Systems and Islanded Active Distribution Networks, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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25 pages, 2188 KiB  
Review
Applications of Electrical Load Modelling in Digital Twins of Power Systems
by Hasith Jayasinghe, Kosala Gunawardane and Robert Nicholson
Energies 2025, 18(4), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18040775 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 732
Abstract
Accurate electrical load modeling is crucial for both transient and steady-state power system studies. Although various load modeling techniques are documented in the literature, a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in these techniques is lacking. This manuscript addresses this gap by presenting [...] Read more.
Accurate electrical load modeling is crucial for both transient and steady-state power system studies. Although various load modeling techniques are documented in the literature, a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in these techniques is lacking. This manuscript addresses this gap by presenting a detailed review of load modeling techniques, emphasizing their applications, recent advancements, and key distinguishing characteristics. Additionally, it explores the role of Digital Twin Models (DTM) in power systems, which offers a virtual representation of the system to simulate diverse operational scenarios and inform future investment and operational decisions. The integration of load models into DTMs poses challenges, such as computational demands and microcontroller limitations, which can be alleviated by adopting advanced load modeling techniques. This work further examines the application of load modeling techniques in the design and development of DTMs for power systems, as well as strategies to enhance the performance of load models in DTM applications. Finally, the manuscript outlines future research opportunities for integrating load modeling within DTM-based power system applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microgrids and Its Application to Integrated Energy Systems and Islanded Active Distribution Networks, 2nd Edition)
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