DC Microgrids: Advances, Challenges, and Applications

Written and edited by a team of well-known and respected experts in the field, this new volume on DC microgrids presents the state-of-the-art developments and challenges in the field of microgrids for sustainability and scalability for engineers, researchers, academicians, industry professionals, consultants, and designers.

The electric grid is on the threshold of a paradigm shift. In the past few years, the picture of the grid has changed dramatically due to the introduction of renewable energy sources, advancements in power electronics, digitalization, and other factors. All these megatrends are pointing toward a new electrical system based on Direct Current (DC). DC power systems have inherent advantages of no harmonics, no reactive power, high efficiency, over the conventional AC power systems. Hence, DC power systems have become an emerging and promising alternative in various emerging applications, which include distributed energy sources like wind, solar and Energy Storage System (ESS), distribution networks, smart buildings, remote telecom systems, and transport electrification like electric vehicles (EVs).

All these applications are designed at different voltages to meet their specific requirements individually because of the lack of standardization. Thus, the factors influencing the DC voltages and system operation needed to be surveyed and analyzed, which include voltage standards, architecture for existing and emerging applications, topologies and control strategies of power electronic interfaces, fault diagnosis and design of the protection system, optimal economical operation, and system reliability.

Nikita Gupta, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, University Institute of Technology, Himachal Pradesh University, India. She received her BTech degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, India in 2011 and MTech degree in power systems from Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India in 2014. She earned her PhD from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India, in 2018. Her research interests include power system analysis, power quality, power electronics applications in renewable energy, and microgrids.

M. S. Bhaskar, PhD, is with the Renewable Energy Lab, in the Department of Communications and Networks Engineering at the College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After receiving his PhD in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019, he was a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Esbjerg, Denmark. He has several years of research experience from several universities, and he has authored over 100 scientific papers in the area of DC/AC power, receiving several awards, as well. He is a member of a number of scientific societies and is a reviewer for several technical journals and conferences, including IEEE and IET.

P. Sanjeevikumar, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Business Development and Technology, CTIF Global Capsule (CGC) Laboratory, Aarhus University, Herning, Denmark. He earned his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, in 2012. He has nearly ten years of teaching and industry experience and has authored over 300 scientific papers, including winning several awards at conferences for having the best paper. He is a fellow or member of numerous scientific societies and associations and is an editor, associate editor, or on the boards of numerous scientific and technical journals.

Dhafer J. Almakhles, PhD, is the Chairman of the of the Communications and Networks Engineering Department, and the Director of the Science and Technology Unit and Intellectual Property Office, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia. He earned his PhD from The University of Auckland, New Zealand 2016. He is also the leader of the Renewable Energy Research Team and Laboratory. He is a member of multiple scientific societies and is a reviewer for a number of technical journals.

Anirban Roy, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at BITS Pilani Goa campus. He has published 20 articles in journals of international repute, filed eight patents, and published one book thus far. He also has ample industrial experience, as well as academic experience, in the field.