Microgrid Solution
One-stop Solution
for Sustainable Power Supply
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1 Overview
Microgrids are electricity generation and distribution systems distribution network to realize the bidirectional energy exchange.
containing loads and distributed energy resources, (such as During the external grid outage, it operates in the islanded
distributed generators (DG), storage devices, or controllable mode to enhance the power supply reliability. The permanently
loads) that can be operated in a controlled, coordinated islanded microgrid is a stand alone network, normally applied in
way either while connected to the main power network or the remote districts not covered by the large power grids, such
while islanded. With its autonomous control, protection and as countryside, island, etc. It operates independently to meet the
management, it provides multiple advantages including higher load demand by the DGs or Energy Storage System (ESS) within
energy utilization rate, higher power supply safety & reliability, microgrids.
less power transmission loss, low environmental impact.
The microgrid (MG) consists of two types, namely grid-connected NR’s all in one microgrid solution covers the overall planning,
microgrid and permanently islanded microgrid. The grid- design, manufacturing, system simulation and test,site
connected microgrid is synchronized with the external power implementation, and provides a complete service for the
grid and generally applied in industrial parks and enterprises, customers.
communities,hospitals, schools, etc. It operates in parallel with the
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Microgrid Solution
System Research
NR Electric is a comprehensive enterprise integrated with research and analysis of steady-state, transient-state, operating modes,
control strategy and protection configuration for microgrid. NR has also undertaken comprehensive research in multiple domains
including power system analysis, stability control, FACTS application, AC/DC hybrid transmission system, analysis for grid applications,
etc. At present NR is fully capable of proving the core technologies for microgrid with high end system research and analysis facilities.
Core Equipment
NR can cover all the high-end equipment to build your microgrid system including microgrid EMS, microgrid controller, microgrid local
controller, microgrid protection IEDs, microgrid energy storage system, PV inverter, reactive-power compensator. This ensures a one-
stop contact for a stable and economic microgrid system.
System Test
NR has established RTDS test facility, RT-LAB test facility, dynamic analog simulation test facility and synthetic test loops to simulate
site application scenarios and to verify the control & protection system, guarantee the correctness of control and protection logics, and
cut down the site commissioning work.
Project Implementation
NR has the professional project management system with project managers certified by the international Project Management
Professional (PMP) . The general contract design covers the projects of primary electrical engineering, secondary electrical engineering,
civil engineering as well as the design capabilities of the conventional substation, DC transmission, FACTS, renewable energy
generation, etc. The manufacturing of core equipment, the purchase management of auxiliary devices and the operation & maintenance
management of operating equipment also are included in the complete microgrid solution.
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2 Microgrid Solutions
NR provides a safe, stable and reliable solution to both grid-connected and islanded type microgrid, which adopts the design of layered
and distributed control system, inherits the technology of smart substation and carries out the coordination of control & protection among
different layers to realize the stable and economic operation of microgrid system. This system greatly increases the proportion of grid-
connected renewable DGs in the distributed power grids.
NR can supply one-stop
solution for microgrid
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Microgrid Solution
Equipment
No. Type Description
name
Microgrid dispatching automation system for data acquisition, supervisory control,
1 Microgrid EMS PCS-9000
optimization and management.
Controller has the functions of control, protection, measuring, monitoring,
Microgrid communication, etc. and carries out the coordinative control of DG, energy storage,
2 PCS-9617MG
Controller diesel generator and controllable load to realize the safe, stable and economic
operation of the microgrid.
Microgrid Controller will be installed at the sides of DG, energy storage, diesel generator and
3 PCS-9617E
Local Controller * load for realizing the local information acquisition, monitoring and control, etc.
The PCS (power conversion system) supports multiple operating modes, such as
4 PCS PCS-9567 PQ, VF, droop control, VSG, black start, constant-DC voltage, constant-DC current,
etc.
5 PV Inverter PCS-9563 Rated capacity: 33kW~1000kW
Hydropower
6 Station SCADA PCS-9150 This system carries out the monitoring and control of hydroelectric generating unit.
System
Microgrid
PCS-9600
7 Protection Protections for mid-/low-voltage line, transformer, capacitor, etc.
Series
Equipment
Reactive-power
PCS-9580 The system supplies dynamic reactive-power compensation for the large-capacity
8 Compensator
PCS-9583 microgrid.
(SVC, STACOM) *
lead-acid, lead-carbon, lithium-ion, zinc-bromine,vanadium flow battery and sodium-
9 Battery
sulfur, etc.
Note: * labeled equipment is normally applied in the large-capacity microgrids (MW-level).
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2.1 Layered and distributed microgrid control & protection system
NR’s microgrid control & protection system adopts the layered • Optimal control level
and distributed design, which is divided into local control level, The optimal control level includes the microgrid EMS and depends
coordinative control level and optimal control level. on the data supplied by SCADA system, dispatching & schedule
system, load forecast system, etc. It realizes the functions of data
• Local control level analysis, energy prediction, load management, optimal operation,
The Local control level includes DGs, PCS, local controller and economic dispatching to maximize the comprehensive utilization
protection IEDs. The automated local control system generally not of the DGs within microgrid.
dependent on communication system can provide fast response
speed during disturbances or short-circuit faults, and stabilize Features
power-supply by the self-regulation of converter or the fast action
of protection equipment. • The effective coordination of control and protection among
different layers with both centralized and distributed features
• Coordinative control level is very helpful to realize the stable and economic operation of
The coordinative control level includes the microgrid controller, microgrid.
which acquires the information of DGs, energy storage, diesel
generators and important load via the control communication • The control-layer networks can be redundantly designed and
network. When microgrid operates in the islanded mode and large configured independently with high reliability and safety.
disturbance occurs (such as non-scheduled grid outage, large-
capacity DG tripping, etc.), the microgrid controller coordinates • The high-performance and ms-level response speed of the
the operating modes of energy storage and diesel generator microgrid controller enables the seamless switch between
as well as the output power of DGs to maintain the voltage and different operation modes of microgrid.
frequency within the allowable ranges and guarantee the stable
and safe operation of microgrid system.
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Microgrid Solution
2.2 Microgrid Controller
PCS-9617MG is a coordination control equipment specifically designed for microgrid (both grid-connected and islanded). It has the
function of control, protection, measuring, monitoring, communication, etc. and carries out the coordinative control of DG, energy
storage, diesel generator and controllable load to realize the safe, stable and economic operation of microgrid. This helps to increase
the economic benefit for customers and enhance the penetration and utilization of DG and renewable energy.
Note: When the microgrid capacity is small, the local controller could not be configured and the microgrid controller communicates directly with
DG, energy storage and diesel engine.
PCS-9617MG is developed based on high-performance control to guarantee the power flow of the point of common
Unified Advanced Platform for Protection and Control (UAPC) coupling (PCC) within the acceptable range.This makes the
independently developed by NR Electric with high speed control microgrid operate as a controllable source/load for a friendly grid-
response and thousands of applications. This guarantees connected distributed system.
the stable and safe operation of microgrid with seamless
operation. In addition, it adopts the advanced optimal control • Ancillary Services
algorithm to ensure the highly efficient and economic operation For higher operation reliability and power quality, the output of
of various energy sources within microgrid, such as DG, CHP, ESS and DGs can be controlled to supply the ancillary services,
solar generation, wind generation, etc. Its control logic can be such as frequency and voltage regulation, for power grid based
flexibly configured according to the various microgrid application on dispatch enter commands or real-time system operation
scenarios.Besides of the advanced control functions, it also condition.
integrates the functions of microgrid Interface protection.
• Energy storage management
PCS-9617MG includes the following functions: Fluctuation suppression: The intermittent feature of wind
generation and solar generation impact the power quality and
1) Control stability of microgrid greatly. However, the energy storage
system has the capability to dynamically absorb or release the
a) Control Strategy for grid-connected Mode
power depending upon grid needs. Special strategy is set in
the controller to suppress the power output fluctuation of wind
• Interface tie-line power control
generation and solar generation and realize the smooth power
In order to avoid the impact of large tie-line power variation, the
output of wind generation and solar generation.
output of energy storage systems and DGs should be under
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Peak shaving: When microgrid operates in the grid-connected
mode, it injects power into the distribution system during the b) Monitoring of circuit-breaker position, CT-wire disconnection,
peak-load period and absorbs power from the distribution system PT-wire disconnection, etc.
during the valley-load period. The peak-valley schedule curve
function is set in the controller, which receives the schedule curve c) Up to 64 fault & action logs, 64 fault wave records, 1024 self-
issued by the dispatching center and controls the power output check reports and 1024 COS (Change-of-state) logs
to make the microgrid an excellent solution for the distribution
system. A peak-valley power output curve can also be set locally d) The synch interface supports several GPS synchronization
to generate power during the peak-price period and absorb power modes, including IRIG-B, SNTP, etc., as well as IEEE1588 V2
during the valley-price period to obtain the benefit of peak-valley high-precision net synchronization mode
price difference which ultimately enhance the economic efficiency
of the microgrid. 4) Communication
b) Control Strategy for Islanded mode a) Up to 6 10/100Mbps electronic Ethernet ports, one 1000Mbps
electronic Ethernet port and 6 RS-485/RS-232 serial ports are
• Frequency & voltage emergency control equipped for communicating with DGs and SCADA system.
In islanded mode, the power deficiency or excess may lead Additionally, it supports IEC60870-5-103, IEC60870-5-104,
to the sharp variation of frequency and voltage. This severely DNP3.0 and MODBUS (Master and Slave).
impacts the normal operation of microgrid and causes the system
breakdown. The frequency & voltage emergency control is set to b) Up to 8 100Base-FX optical Ethernet ports are equipped for
balance the power demand within microgrid and to recover the the fast communication with PCSs and supportsIEC`61850-8-1
voltage and frequency within the allowable operating ranges by GOOSE.
the energy storage output control, fast load shedding and DG
disconnection. c) Hundreds of communication protocols are supported for
communicating with subordinate DGs and other intelligent
• PV power limit control devices. The protocol module is easy and flexible for
configuration and extension.
In order to avoid the automatic shutdown or damage of generator
(diesel generator, gas engine) due to its too low power output, the
Features of Microgrid Controller
PV power output is limited by the automatic generation control to
maintain the power output of generator within an allowable range.
• Based on the mature platform of UAPC, with relay-level reponse
c) Transient process control speed and reliability,capable of seamless switchover between
different microgrid operation modes.
• Switching between grid-connected and islanded
Switchover from grid-connected mode to islanded mode: When • The control logic can be flexibly configured.
the grid is de-energized due to fault, overhaul, etc., the controller
quickly detects the islanded condition, trips the circuit-breaker of • Sufficient communication ports and protocols are supplied to
PCC and sends the islanded signal to the energy storage and realize the communication access of converters and inverters of
DGs for the switching between microgrid's two operating modes. different equipment and different manufacturers.
• Synchronous grid-connection • The communication card and I/O module can be flexibly and
Switchover from islanded mode to grid-connected mode: The optionally configured to meet the requirements of different
controller provides automatic synchronous switching-on function microgrid capacities.
for a safe and reliable grid inter-connection of microgrid.
2) Protection
All the major protection functions according to grid codes needed
including over-current protection, under/over voltage protection
and under/over frequency protection are all inbuilt in the
controller.
3) Monitoring and Measuring
a) Voltage, current, frequency, active power, reactive power,
power factor and kilowatt-hour at PCC
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Microgrid Solution
2.3 Microgrid energy management system
The microgrid energy management system (MEMS) is a dispatching automation system for the data acquisition, supervisory control,
optimization and management of microgrid. The system coordinates and dispatches the microgrid for its efficient, economic, safe and
reliable operation. The architecture of MEMS is shown as the following diagram.
Real-time supervisory control Optimal dispatch Energy management
SCADA Wind power forecast DG management
AGC Solar power forecast Generation schedule management
Voltage & reactive-power control Load forecast Demand-side management
Black-start control Coordinative optimization Business management
Platform layer
System layer
The application functions of MEMS include three subsystems:
• The wind power forecast and solar power forecast predicts the
1) The real-time control subsystem includes the data acquisition & power of wind generation and solar generation respectively. It
supervisory control (SCADA), automatic generation control (AGC), provides the basic data for the dispatching and decision-making
voltage & reactive-power control, and black-start control. of microgrid for understanding and analyzing the bad influences
of the intermittency on the grid.
• The data acquisition & supervisory control is the basis of
MEMS. It acquires the data of source, network and load • The load forecast analyzes the information, such as historical
within microgrid and carries out the supervisory control. It also microgrid load, weather, festival & holiday, special event, etc.,
integrates the meteorological data to provide the basis for the to dig the law of load variation, establish the forecast model and
optimal dispatching of microgrid. predict the future variation of system load.
• The automatic generation control realizes the tie-line active- • The coordinative optimization establishes the multi-objective
power control in the grid-connected mode and the frequency source-net-load optimization model based on the forecasts
control in the islanded mode. It eliminates the negative influence of DGs, flexible loads and the real time operation condition of
of the output power's uncertainty of renewable energy sources microgrid. This helps to carry out the optimal dispatching of the
and guarantees the stability of microgrid active-power and coordination for realizing the implementation and comprehensive
frequency. utilization of energy sources.
• The voltage & reactive power control exploits the reactive- 3) The energy management subsystem includes the DG
power control capability of the control equipment and DGs within management, generation schedule management, demand-side
microgrid and carries out the coordinated reactive-power control management and business management.
to realize the fast and continuous regulation of microgrid voltage.
• The DG management includes managements of
• When the microgrid enters into complete black-out condition, safety,operation,equipment and data of DGs and realizes the
the black-start control generally only starts up the micro-sources asset management in their whole lives.
in microgrid to gradually expand the recovery scope of system for
realizing the efficient and stable recovery of microgrid. • The generation schedule management lays down the balance of
electric power, and arranges the electricity quantity, generator unit
2) The optimal dispatching subsystem includes the wind power on-off and power supply schedules for different DGs according to
forecast, solar power forecast, load forecast and coordinative the overhaul plan.
optimization.
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Meanwhile, the generation schedule management also Microgrid EMS Features
makes the statistics and checks the execution.
• MEMS integrates data of different subsystems seamlessly
to provide a unified interface for easy realization of the flexible
• The demand-side management applies the effective incentive
interaction among different application functions.
and guiding measure to improve the electricity utilization pattern
of microgrid users, increase the electricity utilization efficiency,
• MEMS senses in the real time situation of microgrid and
optimize the resource allocation, protect the environment, and cut
responses quickly to the variation of source, network and load.
down the power-supply service cost.
This ensures the microgrid to be an effective, economic, safe and
reliable operating condition at any time.
• The business management manages the electricity trade
between microgrid and distribution network according to the
• There are various built-in DG models in MEMS to support
contracts of microgrid users with the power distribution company
the quick access and participation in the optimal dispatching
and the actual operational conditions of microgrid.
management for different DG.
2.4 PCS for ESS
The Power Conversion System (PCS) of ESS has the features of • Backup power-supply: Maintain the voltage and frequency of
bidirectional power flow and flexible control during much needed microgrid during its outage, which ensures the continuous power-
situations. The advantages of ESS in microgrid are as follows : supply for important devices to reduce the economic loss due to
the outage.
• Peak shaving: Promote the application of renewable energy in
microgrid, increase the penetration rate of DG accommodation • Black start: Used as the black-start power source of the islanded
and lessen the impact on microgrid. microgrid to set up the base voltage and frequency of microgrid to
ensure its stable startup.
• Frequency & voltage regulation: Participate in the frequency &
voltage regulation of microgrid and provide active and reactive-
power support, which enhances the stability of microgrid
operation.
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Microgrid Solution
PCS is the interface between grid and storage system, which • VF control mode:The frequency & voltage control in the
can store the electrical energy from grid into the energy storage islanded condition, suitable for the reliable operation in islanded
device as well as release the energy into the grid from the mode.
storage.
• Droop control mode: It has active power-frequency and
PCS-9567 PCS supports various operating modes to meet reactive power-voltage droop controls, suitable for frequency &
the requirements of different microgrid application scenarios voltage regulation.
for peak shaving, frequency & voltage regulation, etc. By the
mode selection, it can operate in either grid-connected mode
• VSG mode: Simulate the external characteristic of synchronous
or islanded mode. The advanced virtual synchronous generator
generator, suitable for the seamless switchover between grid-
(VSG) control strategy is applied to realize the fast and seamless
connected mode and islanded mode.
switchover between grid-connected mode and islanded mode for
avoiding the impact of sudden changed voltage and current due
to the operation mode switchover.
• Black start mode: Establish and stabilize the grid voltage and
frequency, suitable for the black-start application in the islanded
condition.
• PQ decoupling mode: The decoupled control of active and
reactive powers in the grid-connection condition, suitable for the
peak shaving and the frequency & voltage regulation.
Features of PCS-9567 series PCS:
1) As the core part of energy storage system, the Power 4) Meet the requirement of the fast response at ms-level and
Conversion System (PCS) is developed based on high- realize the flexible dispatching in the microgrid.
performance and highly-reliable UAPC platform with features
of dual-DSP design, independent management CPU, reliable 5) High safety and reliability realized based on modular and
protection and control functions, powerful communication, integrative system design with highest conversion efficiency up
advanced event management and information storage, perfect to more than 98.7%.
fault recording, etc.
6) The product has been certified by UL and TUV.
2) Support multiple isolated channels for binary and analog inputs
including battery communication interfaces, such as CAN, net 7) The excellent high voltage and low voltage ride-through
port, optical port, serial port, etc. (LVRT) performance and better frequency adaptability provide the
frequency and voltage supports to ensure the stable operation of
3) Support various communication protocols, such as CAN, microgrid.
MODBUS, IEC103, IEC61850, etc.
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NR supplied PCS and control
system for China's first Sodium
Sulfur (NaS) BESS
2.5 Microgrid Protection
PCS-9600 series microgrid protective IEDs have the following advantages:
• High-performance CPU and DSP with reliable internal high-speed communication bus is adopted for reliably realizing outstanding
functions.
• The modular designed board hardware is flexibly-configurable, very universal and easy to expand and maintain.
• Duplex design and duplicated sampling is applied for enhanced data collection reliability.
• The startup DSP and protection DSP are completely independent of each other to guarantee the reliability of protection actions.
• Easy to maintain and operate.
• Long equipment platform lifetime.
• The visual programming and commissioning software adopts the visualized, modularized, hierarchical and object-oriented
programming mode.
• Support self-adaptation of protection settings for both grid-connected and islanded modes.
NR can supply whole series of protection devices for microgrid
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Microgrid Solution
3 Microgrid References
• The microgrid protection and control system of Yunnan science park
• The microgrid protection and monitoring system of Island Dawanshan
• The microgrid protection and monitoring system of Island Guishan
• The microgrid protection and monitoring system of Island Dong’ao
• The microgrid protection and monitoring system of Gonghe, CGNPC
• The protection and control system of Dynamic simulation microgrid, Zhejiang EPRI
• The protection and control system of the Changchun Institute of Technology
• The microgrid protection system of Yanqing, Beijing
• The microgrid project of Jiaze, Ningxia
• The PV-storage microgrid of Jiangning intelligent industrial park in Nanjing city
• The India's first 500kW Li-ion and 500kW Lead Acid Battery Energy Storage System of Power Grid Corporation of India
• The AC/DC hybrid-type microgrd turnkey project of State Power Economic Research Institute, Beijing city of China
• The PV&BESS microgrd turnkey project in Mozambique
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