IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution (Nov 2023)
The nexus of energy in microgrids: A review on communication barriers in distributed networks auxiliary controls
Abstract
Abstract Microgrids are a new concept resulting from decentralized power sources, which have changed energy utility grid topography. As this promising field is penetrated, control must be streamlined immediately. This paper analyses key control mechanisms in energy utility networks, including centralized, decentralized, and distributed setups. The focus is on the auxiliary category as the various benefits and drawbacks of each approach is investigated. Information interchange architectures that enable multiple control techniques in the auxiliary control domain are examined using distributed energy networks. The research emphasizes the necessity of auxiliary control in ensuring reliable and effective utility infrastructure operation but notes the lack of a comprehensive scholarly reference. Additionally, the study explores key concerns in utility grids' auxiliary control mechanisms, emphasizing information‐sharing system limits. The goal is to demonstrate the importance of auxiliary control and evaluate its challenges, such as latency, which require new solutions for a seamless transition to a sustainable energy future through rigorous academic assessment. At the auxiliary level, complex, decentralized regulatory mechanisms are recommended to handle transmission channel bandwidth and operational overhead in energy utility networks. These innovative measures have the potential to transform the fundamental structure of our energy landscape, heralding in unprecedented efficiency and sustainability.
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