Generation capacity design for a microgrid for measurable power quality indexes

Microgrids are receiving a lot of attention to utilize distributed generations in a sub-system and provide higher efficiency and reliability and support local loads. A high renewable-energy penetrated microgrid is studied in this paper. The distribution system and the loads in the microgrid are represented by a properly scaled 12kV IEEE 34 bus system. The central power is replaced with a 1.875MVA base-load diesel generator and a 250kW solar PV and a 500kW wind generations are added at nodes 848 and 890, respectively. The major loads in this microgrid are then modeled with a load profile. Special variable kW and kVAR loads were modeled to include load demand variations. The wind and solar PV plants are modeled with wind and solar power profiles. The microgrid system including the source variations and demand variations is simulated using PSCAD software. The microgrid is monitored at number of buses and the power quality issues are measured and indexes are calculated. This system can be used to determine the capacity requirements for the non-renewable generators to maintain the power quality indexes.