System Level Control and Optimisation of Microgrids

Microgrids are essential components of next-generation energy grids. A microgrid is a local, integrated energy system comprising interconnected loads and distributed energy resources; they can represent urban or rural districts, islands or local communities. Microgrids can operate in parallel with the main grid or independently in an intentional island mode. When on-site generation is included, intelligent buildings can also function as microgrids. Efficient optimization and control algorithms are crucial for ensuring optimal microgrid performance, making them a continuous focus of research and development in the field of power systems.

The next-generation energy grid and urban environment need to be smart and sustainable to deal with the growing energy demand and achieve environmental goals. In this context, the role of local energy systems at the distribution level, which can represent urban or rural districts, islands or local communities, is crucial.

System Level Control and Optimisation of Microgrids offers a comprehensive and systematic review of developments in this field. The chapters cover topics such as modelling of integrated energy systems and district heating systems, dynamics and control of grid-connected microgrids, frequency regulation, distributed optimization for energy grids, integration of distributed energy resources, transactive energy management for multi-energy microgrids, and laboratory validation. Real-world examples are provided through case studies based on the EUREF Energy Workshop and fog computing-based decentralized energy management.

This book presents a wide range of perspectives from academia and industry on the challenges and solutions in microgrid optimization and control. It serves as a thorough resource for engineers and academics in the control and power systems fields, as well as for graduate students in related disciplines. Advanced control and optimization techniques for microgrids are discussed in depth, with examples and case studies demonstrating their practical application in shaping the future of energy systems.

Alessandra Parisio is a professor of control of sustainable energy networks at the University of Manchester, UK. She has been a principal or co-investigator on research projects supported by e.g. Innovate UK, EC H2020, and industrial partners. She serves as an IEEE senior member and co-chair of the IEEE RAS Technical Committee on Smart Buildings and as editor of the IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems, and the European Journal of Control and Applied Energy. She received the IEEE PES Outstanding Engineer Award in January 2021. Her research interests include distributed optimisation and control, power systems, and optimisation and control of multi-energy networks. She received the IEEE PES Outstanding Engineer Award in January 2021 and the Energy and Buildings Best Paper Award (for a 10-year period between 2008 and 2017) in January 2019. Her main research interests span the areas of control engineering, in particular Model Predictive Control, distributed optimisation and control, stochastic constrained control, and power systems, with energy management systems under uncertainty, optimisation and control of multi-energy networks, and distributed flexibility.

Johannes Schiffer is a professor of control systems and network control technology at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany, in a joint appointment with the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems (IEG), where he heads the Business Area 'System Integration, Automation and Operation Management'. Prior to that, he held appointments as a lecturer (assistant professor) at the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, UK, and as a research associate in the Control Systems Group and as the Chair of Sustainable Electric Networks and Sources of Energy both at TU Berlin. Prof. Schiffer and his co-workers received the Automatica Paper Prize over the years 2014-16 and the at - Automatisierungstechnik Best Paper Award 2022. He currently also serves as co-coordinator of the Energy Innovation Center Cottbus (EIZ) and as coordinator of the EU MSCA Doctoral Network Dependable Smart Energy Systems (DENSE).

Christian A. Hans is a professor (W1 with tenure track) of Automation and Sensorics in Networked Systems at the University of Kassel, Germany. He earned a PhD degree with distinction from TU Berlin in 2021. Before joining TU Berlin, he worked as an engineering expert at Younicos AG (now Aggreko plc), Germany, developing control algorithms for low-inertia microgrids. His research combines automatic control theory and applications in power systems with intermittent decentralized renewable generation.