Design and Development of a Microgrid Project at Rural Area

Xianwen Zhu1,2, S. Premrudeepreechacharn1, C. Sorndit3, T. Meenual3, T. Kasirawat3,

N. Tantichayakorn3
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2
NR Electric Co. Ltd., Nanjing, China
3
Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Bangkok, Thailand
(zhuxw@nrec.com)

Abstract – This paper presents design and development

of a microgrid project at rural area. Ban Khun Pae Village
is about 35 km away from HOA Substation. This rural area
has the problem of unstable power supply of hydropower,
electricity shortage and the conflicts between irrigation and
hydropower generation. Therefore, microgrid has been
developed for this area. This paper discusses the microgrid
system in practical application. The feasibility study of the
proposed system has been verified from simulation and
experiment. The topology and function design for microgrid Fig. 1. System components
project at rural area can be applied to other similar
microgrid projects. This microgrid system can be divided into 3 main areas,
defined as Zone 1 to Zone 3, as shown in Fig. 2. While,
Keywords – microgrid, rural area load break switch (LBS) S1, S2, S3, S4 are used for
isolation, load shedding and black start, respectively.
I. INTRODUCTION Additionally, Zone 2 is the priority area which loads in
Ban Khun Pae Village is about 35 km away from this zone are royal project, hospital and school. Loads in
HOA Substation. In ever before, there is only one small Zone 1 and Zone 3 are not priority.
hydropower plant of 90kW which was constructed in
1989, as the main power source for the Khun Pae Royal
Development Project and nearby communities. So, the
distributed power system is very weak inherently. The
power of hydropower plant depends on the amount of
water, and there are dry season and flood season, so the
generation of the hydropower is seasonal. In addition,
local farms also need the water in the reservoir of
hydropower plant for agriculture irrigation. So there are
following main issues: unstable power supply of
hydropower, electricity shortage and the conflicts between
irrigation and hydropower generation. Hence, the
Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) decided to work
together with Chiang Mai University (CMU) to build a
smart microgrid by integrating PV generation and BESS Fig. 2. Zones in Khun Pae microgrid.
to enhance the local power supply, the stability and
resiliency of the power system. In this project, NR The daily load profile of all 3 zones are demonstrated in
Electric Co.,Ltd(NR) supplied the microgrid system Fig. 3. It is found that the demand in Zone 1 is very little.
which include system design, key equipment include On the other hand, Zone 3 has the highest load demand
microgrid energy management system(MEMS), microgrid which can be divided into 2 sub zones (Zone 3.1 and Zone
controller, battery energy storage system(BESS) and 3.2). The heavy load consumption occurs in the early
Photovoltaic(PV) generation system. morning and in the evening, which the peak demand is at
6.00 a.m and 8.00 p.m.
Fig. 1 illustrates the main component of Ban Khun
Pae microgrid which consists of 100 kW PV generation
system, 100 kW*1h BESS and 90 kW Hydro generator.
Ban Khun Pae village has customer 483 households
(mostly are agriculturists) and the peak load is
approximately 76 kW (April 2016).

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 Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE PES GTD Asia

Fig. 3. Load Profiles of all 3 Zones.

Although, the output power of hydro generator is decided Fig. 6. Single line diagram
by the water level. The run of river designed hydro power
plant will keep the output power to remain constant, as
much as possible. Fig. 4, shows the annual generation The RTDS test environment is as below:
profile in year 2007. It can be seen that the power
generation is very low during March and April. On the
other hand, the output power is very high during in the
raining season, between June and November.

Fig. 7. RTDS test environment

Simulation results:

1, Black start with load

Fig. 4. Generation profile of hydro power plant When black start with load, active power is as Fig 8,
Assuming the PV generation profile, based on the 100 kW voltage and frequency is as Fig 9.
capacity, is as in Fig. 5. This daily profile is from the
collected data of solar irradiance and temperature in June
2016 (10 minute resolution). It is found that the peak
power generation is about 60 kW at the noon time.

PV generation (kW)
80
60
40
20
0
0:00
1:50
3:40
5:30
7:20
9:10
11:00
12:50
14:40
16:30
18:20
20:10
22:00
23:50

Fig. 5. PV generation profile

II. SYSTEM MODELING

Fig. 8. The active power when black start with load
This study examines the performance of microgrid control
during the grid connecting and island mode via Real Time
Digital Simulator(RTDS). The RTDS test topology is as
shown in Fig.6.

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Fig. 9. The voltage and frequency when black start with

load Fig. 12. The voltage and frequency when switching
from Grid-connecting mode to island mode with hydro
2, Suddenly reduce the load when island mode with
hydro
When suddenly reduce the load when island mode
with hydro, voltage and frequency is as Fig 10, the power
and rotation speed is as Fig 11. In order to balance the
system power, the PCS reduce the power quickly. At the
same time, due to the effect of inertia, the output of the
PCS vibrate slightly, voltage and frequency have
increased.

Fig. 13. The active power, reactive power and rotation

Fig. 10. The voltage and frequency when suddenly
reduce the load when island mode with hydro
speed of the hydro when switching from Grid-connecting
mode to island mode with hydro
4 PV smoothing
By collecting the actual photovoltaic output data in
one day, as shown in the red section. After filtering by the
controller, the waveform is shown in the blue section.

Fig. 14. PV smoothing

Fig. 11. The active power, reactive power and rotation
speed when suddenly reduce the load when island mode
with hydro
3, Switching from Grid-connecting mode to island
mode with hydro
When switching from Grid-connecting mode to island
mode with hydro, voltage and frequency is as Fig 12, the
active power, reactive power and rotation speed is as Fig
13. Compare with without hydro, the output of power
conversion system (PCS) vibrates slightly after point of
common coupling (PCC) LBS open.
The RTDS test is conducted according to the
functional requirement of the Thailand Ban Khun Pae
Microgrid project. Based on the test result, we can see
that the Microgrid controller and the PCS have the
function of switching between Grid-connecting mode and
island mode, Grid-connecting mode, island mode ,black
start, PV smoothing, etc.
III. SYSTEM TOPOLOGY DESIGN
The smart microgrid system with the autonomous
control, protection and energy management system is
expected to provide multiple advantages including higher
energy utilization, higher power supply safety and

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 Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE PES GTD Asia
reliability, less power transmission loss,
environmental impact and higher resiliency.
Fig 15 shows there are three control level of the
microgrid system. NR’s Microgrid control & protection
system adopts the layered and distributed design, which is
divided into local control level, coordinative control level
and optimal control level.
The Local control level includes distributed generator
(DG), PCS, local controller and protection Intelligent
Electronic Device (IED). Our automated local control
system with independent communication can provide fast
response speed between equipment during minor
disturbances or short-circuit faults and stabilize power-
supply by the self-regulation of converter or the fast
action of protection equipment.
The coordinative control level includes the Microgrid
controller, which acquires the information of DGs, energy
storage and important load via the control communication
network. When Microgrid operates in the island mode and
large disturbance occurs the Microgrid controller
coordinates the operating modes of energy storage as well
as the output power of DGs to maintain the voltage and
frequency within the allowable ranges and guarantee the
stable and safe operation of Microgrid system.
The optimal control level includes the Microgrid EMS
and depends on the data supplied by SCADA system,
dispatching & schedule system, load forecast system, etc.
It realizes the functions of data analysis, energy prediction,
load management, optimal operation, economic
dispatching for the specified applications to maximize the
comprehensive utilization rate of the DGs within
Microgrid.
Fig 16 has shown the full system topology which
indicate the communication for each part. MGCC
communicates with DGs (for this project, PV inverter and
PCS for battery) and each FRTU via GOOSE to realize
fast control performance. Due to hydro generator
controller use private protocol, so MGCC communicate
with hydro generator SCADA via OPC protocol.
Fig. 15. Layered and Distributed microgrid Control
System
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low
Fig.16. microgrid system topology
IV. SYSTEM FUNCTION DESIGN
The microgrid system is located at rural area, so the
system is designed to work in unman operation and
maintenance.
1, Grid connecting status control
When microgrid operates in the grid connecting mode,
it absorbs power from the distribution system during the
peak load period in case local power generation lower
than load and injects power into the distribution system
during the valley-load period in case local power
generation higher than load. The peak-valley schedule
curve function is set in the controller, which receives the
scheduled curve setting in the microgrid EMS and
controls the power output to make the microgrid an
excellent solution for the distribution system.
Normally the PV output is not stable, it will vary with
the intensity of sunshine. So, the MGCC can control the
BESS to compensate and make the total output more
smoothly by PV smoothing function.
2, Seamless switching from grid connecting to island
Sometime for microgrid area, there is a planning for
outage (such as to maintenance the incoming line), will
scheduled switch from grid connecting mode to island
mode. To reduce the frequency and voltage fluctuation,
the MGCC will monitor and control the power exchange
in PCC point first, and then change the operation mode of
PCS and open the LBS1 for PCC.
If the MGCC receive the scheduled island command,
the MGCC will detect the power exchange at PCC point,
if the power grid transfer power to microgrid and the
value is higher than the setting, will control the BESS or
load shedding for unimportant load until the power is
lower than setting; if the microgrid transfer power to
power grid and the value is higher than the setting, will
limit the power output of PV or shutdown the PV and
control the BESS until the power exchange is lower than
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 Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE PES GTD Asia

the setting. After detecting the power exchange is lower time, there is less power requirement from power grid to
than the setting , will send the command to change the reduce the power loss in transmission line, and during
control mode of PCS from PQ to VSG mode, and trip the afternoon, the PV power is more than load, so after charge
LBS1 of PCC. full the battery, the PV power will send back to power
grid. By using the PV smoothing function, the fluctuation
3, Automatic black start
of PV output can be compensate to be more stable power
When microgrid area outage, microgrid output. Fig 19 shows the performance of PV smoothing
controller(MGCC) ensure there is no internal fault inside function. It also can seamless switching from grid
microgrid area, trip LBS1 to confirm isolate with power connecting to island, in case incoming distribution line
grid and then closes the LBS2, LBS3 and LBS4 , then has been tripped due to fault or lost power due to other
starts the PCS to set up the voltage with load, in order to reason, the microgrid system can automatically black start
improve the stability of black start, the voltage increase to set up a island operation to enhance the power supply
speed should not be too fast. At the same time, all the reliability. During island mode, load shedding function is
protection functions of the MGCC are disabled, to avoid provided to ensure the stable power supply of important
the voltage and frequency protection operating. By using load uninterrupted. Fig 20 shows that in island mode, load
the automatic black start function to ensure that in case shedding function shed LBS S2 and S4 to ensure
the incoming line has been tripped by fault or lost power important load under LBS S3 can get power supply until
for other reason, the microgrid area still can get power power grid recover. After the power grid has been recover,
from local sources. the microgrid system can automatically synchronize back
to power grid to increase the power supply reliability.
4, Automatic switching from island to grid connecting
The controller provides automatic synchronous
switching-on function for a safe and reliable grid inter-
connection of microgrid.
When the power system recover from the fault, to
improve the reliability of power supply of microgrid area,
it will switch back to grid connecting mode. The MGCC
will control the U and f both less than the setting, and then
close the LBS1 for PCC , and then send the command to
change the control mode of PCS from VSG mode to PQ
mode .
5, Island control
In island mode, the power deficiency or excess may
lead to the sharp variation of frequency and voltage. This
severely impacts the normal operation of loads within
Fig. 17. Dispatching curve
microgrid and causes the system breakdown. The
frequency & voltage emergency control is set to balance
the power demand within microgrid and to recover the
voltage and frequency within the allowable operating
ranges by the energy storage output control, fast load
shedding and DG disconnection.
V. OPERATION PERFORMANCE
In grid connecting mode , The microgrid system can
be consider as the controllable curve for outer power grid
by dispatch the internal DGs, BESS and load ,which
especially for BESS we can preset the charge and
discharge curve for maximize the local generation local
consumption to reduce the power loss in transmission line
to make microgrid system cost effective and environment Fig. 18. Energy management in microgrid
friendly.
Fig 17 shows the dispatching curve from microgrid
EMS. Fig 18 shows the curve for PV ,BESS, Grid and
load, by adjust the output of DGs, BESS, load, the
microgrid output can be flexible curve for power grid. It
also shows that compare with load curve, during peak

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 Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE PES GTD Asia

paragraphs management in a hybrid AC/DC microgrid,” IEEE Trans.

Smart Grid, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 1–12, Apr. 2014.
[6] X. Zhou, T. Guo and Y. Ma,"An overview on microgrid
technology," in Proc. 2015 IEEE International Conference
on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA),pp.76-81.
[7] Sewan Heo, Jinsoo Han, and Wan-Ki Park,"Power
Conditioning System with Seamless ModeTransition for
Microgrid Island Operations."

Fig. 19. PV Smoothing

Fig. 20. Interruption and load shedding

VI. CONCLUSIONS

This paper introduces the background of Thailand first

smart microgram project at Ban Khun Pae Chiang Mai
Thailand. A typical topology and function design for
microgrid project at rural area also has been proposed in
this paper which is possible to use in other similar
microgrid project. microgrid is an efficient way to
integrate RE, need consider the proper financial model to
encourage the RE integration to support technical
innovation, such as the controllable power exchange
curve between power grid and microgrid, but not the tariff.
VII. REFERENCES

[1] PCS-9617MG_X_Instruction
Manual_EN_Customized_ECKF170198_R1.00.
[2] Microgrid Controller :Control and Operation-Thailand
IEEE,Session 3.2 13 Sep 2018,Dr.Suttichai
Premrudeepreechacharn.
[3] MICROGRID COORDINATED CONTROL SYSTEM
WITH VSG-CIRED Workshop - Ljubljana, 7-8 June 2018-
Haobin ZHU Guangfu XU Xianwen ZHU Qunbing YU
Jun CHEN XU LI.
[4] Tirapong Kasirawat,Patompong Boonsiri,Titti
Saksornchai,"PEA Microgrid Design for Coexistence with
Local Community and Environment: Case Study at Khun
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[5] N. Eghtedarpour and E. Farjah, “ Power control and

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