Real-Time Simulation Testbed for Energy Management and Control of Renewable Energy-Based Microgrids

This paper presents a real-time simulation testbed designed to evaluate energy management and control strategies for renewable energy-based microgrids. The testbed is developed using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) to assess the performance of control methods before practical implementation. The microgrid model incorporates key renewable and storage components, encompassing photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery storage, a diesel generator, and a vehicle-to-grid-enabled electric vehicle (EV) charging station. The research emphasizes three operational scenarios: grid-connected operation, smooth transition to islanded mode with the battery inverter operating in grid-forming mode, and islanded operation employing the emergency generator when the battery is completely discharged. By simulating these conditions, the testbed allows for a comprehensive analysis of system stability, energy efficiency, and reliability under real-world conditions, thereby ensuring that the developed control strategies can effectively manage power flow and system stability in both connected and islanded modes. The results provide valuable insights into optimizing microgrid operations.