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Hybrid microgrids, integrating local energy resources, present a promising but challenging solution, especially in areas with limited or no access to the national grid. Reliable operation of off-grid energy systems necessitates sustainable energy sources, given the intermittent nature of renewables. While fossil fuel diesel generators mitigate risks, they increase carbon emissions. This study assesses the viability of integrating a very small modular renewable energy reactor into a microgrid for replacing conventional diesel generators, substantially curbing greenhouse gas emissions. A comprehensive analysis, including design and economic evaluation, was conducted for an off-grid community microgrid with an annual generation and load of 8.5 GWh and 7.8 GWh, respectively. The proposed microgrid configurations incorporate very small modular reactors, alongside solar, wind, and battery storage systems. MATLAB modeling and simulation across eight cases, accounting for seasonal variations, demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of case 7. This configuration, integrating modular reactors, photovoltaics, wind turbines, and battery storage, satisfactorily meets load demands. Notably, it boasts a high internal rate of return up to ~31% and a shorter payback period of around 4 years compared to alternative scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to escalating concerns about climate change, there is a growing imperative to prioritize the decarbonization of the telecom sector and effectively reduce its carbon emissions. This study presents a thorough techno-economic optimization framework for implementing renewable-dominated hybrid standalone systems for the base transceiver station (BTS) encapsulation telecom sector in Pakistan. It is noted that from the results obtained from 42 BTS sites overall, 21 BTS sites had a feasible combination of a photovoltaic battery system, having a diesel generator as a backup source with an average LCOE of 0.1246 USD/kWh to 0.2325 USD/kWh. Thus, seven BTS sites had an optimal combination of biomass, with photovoltaic and battery storage systems and with a varied LCOE of 0.1175 USD/kWh to 0.1318 USD/kWh. Moreover, due to the high flow of hydro water in the north region, five BTS sites presented an ideal configuration of a hydro system coupled with a photovoltaic, wind, and battery storage system, with a varied LCOE of 0.04547 USD/kWh to 0.07419 USD/kWh. Wind energy systems are dominant in the southern region; therefore, five BTS sites presented an ideal combination of a wind energy system coupled with a photovoltaic battery storage system, having DGs as backup sources for sustainability and with a varied LCOE of 0.1096 USD/kWh to 0.1294 USD/kWh. In addition, 02 BTSs had an optimal combination of photovoltaic systems coupled with hydro and wind systems, with diesel generators having a varied LCOE of 0.07618 USD/kWh to 0.04575 USD/kWh. The remaining 02 BTS sites had a feasible combination of wind–hydro-battery and diesel generator–photovoltaic–hydro-battery systems, with an LCOE of 0.7035 USD/kWh and 0.1073 USD/kWh, respectively. Finally, an environmental analysis based on carbon emissions, as well as sensitivity analyses based on different uncertainties, i.e., wind speed, solar irradiance, inflation rate, discount rate, and load demand, was performed to evaluate the behavior of the proposed systems. The optimization of these systems and comparative study findings indicate that the hybrid BTS system is the best option, better than conventional diesel-operated BTS systems in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper developed an intelligent multi-agent system (MAS) with a multi-layer framework for multi-microgrids (MMGs) using robust and modern communication patterns for deployed agents to achieve distributed tasks. The MMG paradigm introduces three microgrids (MGs) based on the type of load, working environment, and living habitat: residential, commercial, and industrial. In addition, a day-ahead and real-time model is proposed for day-ahead and realtime signals. Intelligent agents in the multi-layer MAS framework make smart decisions based on multiple algorithms to optimize schedule power and minimize costs, considering demand dispatch and demand response as core components. Maximum renewable energy utilization aims to increase user comfort and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Load agents deployed in each MG ensure maximum efficiency. The proposed framework recommends various tariff rates and tariff adjustment strategies to promote and offer an economic evaluation across the respective indices. To minimize the monopoly of the energy market, an efficient energy market model is developed for the proposed MMG paradigm to maximize the competition by incorporating future and spot-market trading schemes for day-ahead and real-time signals. The comparative analysis indicates optimized results based upon the cost-benefit analysis, cost reduction, power transaction in the market, and maximum utilization of renewable energy resources (RERs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power generation integrated microgrids have become a promising choice for power utilities, despite their susceptibility to future climatic conditions. This is partly due to the high cost to be paid to meet the rapid increase in loads and the newly built transmission systems. This paper proposes a framework to assess the long-term impacts of climate change on the reliability performance of a microgrid system connected to an offshore wind farm through an HVDC link. The reliability performance is investigated under different CO2 emission scenarios and time spectra, ranging from medium to long term. The degradation of wind farms of various ages is also examined considering the climate change effects. The study incorporates EURO-CORDEX high-resolution climate projections, which are simulated using high-resolution regional climate models. A hybrid method that includes an analytical and simulation-based sequential Monte Carlo technique is implemented to assess the reliability performance of the microgrid. The assessments revealed that the impacts on microgrid reliability due to the climate change and aging effects were not uniform over the long run which further emphasizes the need of a quantitative assessment in order to expose true impacts of climate change on microgrid extending to the entire power system reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the reliability and resilience of power systems and achieve reliable delivery of power to end users, smart distribution networks (SDNs) play a vital role. The conventional distribution network is transforming into an active one by incorporating a higher degree of automation. Replacing the traditional absence of manual actions, energy delivery is becoming increasingly dependent on intelligent active system management. As an emerging grid modernization concept, the smart grid addresses a wide range of economic and environmental concerns, especially by integrating a wide range of active technologies at distribution level. At the same time, these active technologies are causing a slew of technological problems in terms of power quality and stability. The development of such strategies and approaches that can improve SDN infrastructure in terms of planning, operation, and control has always been essential. As a result, a substantial number of studies have been conducted in these areas over the last 10–15 years. The current literature lacks a combined systematic analysis of the planning, operation, and control of SDN technologies. This paper conducts a systematic survey of the state-of-the-art advancements in SDN planning, operation, and control over the last 10 years. The reviewed literature is structured so that each SDN technology is discussed sequentially from the viewpoints of planning, operation, and then control. A comprehensive analysis of practical SND concepts across the globe is also presented in later sections. The key constraints and future research opportunities in the existing literature are discussed in the final part. This review specifically assists readers in comprehending current trends in SDN planning, operation, and control, as well as identifying the need for further research to contribute to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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