The transition from synchronous generators to inverter-based distributed energy resources in modern power grids poses stability challenges due to the inability of grid-following inverters to emulate the inertial responses of synchronous generators. Grid-forming inverters, however, can mimic these characteristics and improve grid stability, reliability, and resilience, especially during power outages.
This project aims to explore the benefits and risks of grid-forming inverters, particularly by assessing their impact on a community microgrid’s reliability and resilience. The project also seeks to develop a framework for grid restoration and resilience, as well as enhance decision-making for deploying new distributed energy resources. To do this, the control algorithms for grid-forming inverters are developed, and experimental hardware is built and tested in a laboratory community microgrid configuration.
The first phase of the project is to do the theoretical development of the primary control of the grid-forming inverter, the overload protection, and the management of unbalanced loads. The second phase is to assemble two experimental inverters, to integrate them into a laboratory community microgrid, as well as to program and test them. This allows the research team to demonstrate the ability of grid-forming inverters to generate and sustain a community microgrid in real life, as well as perform different practical manoeuvres such as black start, synchronization and short-circuit tests. The third and final phase of the project is to add a power systems approach where the results from the implementation experiments are evaluated under realistic grid conditions. In this context, particular focus is placed on the role of grid-forming inverters in enhancing grid reliability and resilience. Furthermore, the potential advantages and associated risks in low-voltage networks are assessed within a simulation environment, building upon the findings from the implementation experiments.
