Design and Operation of Microgrid with Renewable
Energy Sources and Energy Storage System
*
Harshada Dattatray Borse
Roll Number-23EE63R12
Department of Electrical Engineering
IIT Kharagpur,India
mail address- harshadaborse1999@gmail.com
Abstract—Modern power system experts attentions have been
diverted from the centralized power generation to the microgrid
system due to availability of high potentials of renewable energy
resources. Microgrid is designed so that a little dependency
on national grid. In this paper a microgrid design guidelines,
procedures and techniques have been presented where the re-
newable energy resources are available in abundant. A case
study of an educational institute with academic blocks has
been taken for which a microgrid is designed with available
resources (solar and wind) and energy storage system. Optimal
sizes and sites for wind and solar PV units were investigated
using an analytical approach. The proposed scheme presents
the effective utilization of energy sources with a ranked load
distribution system. The results obtained in this research work
clearly demonstrates the cost effectiveness of microgrid compare
to the dependency on power utility grid. Cost analysis of the
microgrid with proposed renewable sources, batteries and diesel
generators has also been carried out.of SRBC with net-zero
energy target. The MG was designed with the considerations of
PV system, small wind generators and Li-ion batteries to meet
the dynamic and static load. This paper mainly focused on the
design and operational planning of an island mode microgrid.
An educational institute with administration and departmental
blocks with different load characteristics has been taken as a
case study. A complete load survey and statistical approaches
were used to investigate the electrical load demand in summer,
winter and spring season. On the basis of maximum demand
of the administration and engineering laboratories, class rooms
and offices the optimal renewable energy sources have been
optimized for the effective utilization of units and to satisfy
the load demands. A hybrid system with energy storage system
and backup diesel generators set up is optimized very effectively
and cost analysis is also carried out for the life cycle cost and
overall project estimated expanses. A microgrid protection and
effective operation strategies, guidelines and planning have also
been presented in this research work.
Index Terms——Microgrid, Distributed Energy resources, So-
lar PV system, Wind turbine, Energy storage system.
I. I NTRODUCTION
Renewable energy sources (RES) are now recognize glob-
ally as important alternative options in supplying the electrical
loads of microgrids. Renewable energy based design and
development of microgrids have attained a greater attention of
Identify applicable funding agency here. If none, delete this.
power researchers and electric energy experts. Operating costs
of renewable sources like wind, solar PV, fuel cells, biomass
etc. are lesser than conventional energy sources (Nuclear,
coal, oil and gas based) comparatively. Renewable energy
sources are clean and pollution free and therefore are the prior
options for the designers and planners of smart and microgrids.
Microgrids not only provide onsite power to the local users
but may sell surplus energy to power utility grid during light
loads or surplus generation. As energy demands are increasing
rapidly worldwide due the economic developments and grad-
ual growth in rate of populations, requiring energy resources
to meet the daily energy demands. The significant issues that
have made hard to grow renewable energy sources for large
power generation are the unreliability and huge capital costs.
It relates voltage and frequency fluctuations of renewable
energies availability (e.g. from wind, solar, micro hydro and
biomass etc.) and the amount of these energies depends on
the environmental impacts (like climate and weather), place
and time [3]. The optimal renewable technology unit size is
the other main constraint in the design and planning of smart
and microgrids. Different techniques have been presented to
design and plan the microgrids with optimal renewable energy
sources to meet the electrical load satisfactory. R. Nazir et.al
[3] analyzed the possibility to develop the simple microgrid
model to optimize the local available renewable energy sources
in operating microgrid with on-grid mode. Micro hydro power
unit and Photovoltaic (PV) system were considered and the
model analysis was performed with MATLAB/Simulink soft-
ware. The options of research work in paper [4] were biomass,
PV and wind while other performed the optimization of wind,
solar, micro hydro and non-renewable diesel hybrid system for
the electrification of remote areas. The PV system and energy
storage units (batteries) were integrated with traditional elec-
tric power system using distributing method in [6]. The two
PV units of 190kW each and batteries output voltage of 380V
were coupled on a single bus to complete an on-grid microgrid
project. The on-grid and off-grid operation were checked with
harmonic detecting techniques by controllers. The work in [7]
highlighted the necessity of primary, secondary and tertiary
control levels with the generation from the PV and energy

Fig. 1. simple schematic model of microgrid [7]
systems and SVC and STATCOM converters. A more related
work to the study in this paper was presented in [8] for the de-
sign of microgrid system derived from the prospective scheme
that was designed for the Sustainable Building research center
(SBRC) at the University of Wollongong University, Australia.
The work was to contribute in in the design and operation of
microgrid
II. OVERVIEW OF M ICROGRID
A microgrid is actually a subset of electric power system.
It is a power distribution network of that consists of several
local distributed generation resources (DER) or generators
with energy storage system and controllable loads and can
operate both in an island mode (off-grid) and in parallel with
utility grid (on-grid). The local generating sources may be
conventional fossil fuels or then renewable energy sources. A
simple model of a microgrid with DERs and loads is shown
in figure 1.
III. C OMMON FEATURES OF M ICROGRID
-Operate in both the islanded mode and gridconnected
- Presentation to the microgrid as a single controlled entity
have a large number of induction motors and DC motors.
Voltage buses are selected as most microgrid have both
AC and DC main buses. For the load and power system
parameters measurements, C.Ts, P.Ts, Voltmeters, Wattmeter -
Combination of co-located power generation sources and inter-
connected loads
- Provide different levels of the power quality and supply
continuity (reliability) for the end users
- They are designed to accommodate the total system energy
requirement
IV. M ICROGRID ENABLING T ECHNOLOGIES
The key feature and capability of a designed microgrid is
the ability to operate in an island mode (off-grid) when the
power supply from the distribution system of utility’s grid
is suddenly interrupted or then blackouts for longer duration.
The microgrid should be designed so that it may satisfy the
load demand [8]. There should be an intelligent control and
protective system to handle and operate the microgrid with dy-
namic behavior of load. The control system will control the bus
voltages, reactive power in peak load duration and maintained
the frequency within standard limits while protective system
avoid the MG from faults and overloading. However to operate
the microgrid in an island mode in expected manner following
technologies will be required: • Distributed generation (DG) •
Distribution Automation (DA) • Smart energy meters and other
measuring meters • Islanding and bi-directional inverters
• Substation Automation (SA)
• Microgrid control system (voltage, frequency etc.)
• Smart transfer and change over Switches
• Advanced energy storage system (batter-
ies/supercapacitors) According to IEEE and the study
performed by Zyprme et.al [10], the most important enabling
technologies for the design and operation of microgrid are the;
1) energy management system, 2) distribution management
system, 3) sensors and 4) communication systems. The one
limitation in this study is to neglect the controllers and
protection system.
V. M ICROGRID DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
This section provides the general guidelines of design
considerations of microgrid and as applied here for institute
of Balochistan U.E.T Khuzdar. The especially importance is
given to the power generation system, energy storage system
and well control and protection system. The load profile of
all the concerned sections like labs, class rooms, offices, data
centers, conference and examination and Power factor meters
are used. The collected load data is scaled to match with the
design details regarding the load taken of site or institute etc.
One more important consideration in microgrid design is the
future load growth especially when the microgrid will have to
operate in island mode. However the issue of load shedding
may not rise if the installed power generation units have
capacities of 15-20more than the present load demand. halls
and administration block have been obtained using statistical
load calculation method, measurements and from the power
rating of equipment and appliances. Fortunately the behavior
of load except laboratories were same as most of the load
is lightening, computers and Air conditioners. The labs and
Power factor meters are used. The collected load data is scaled
to match with the design details regarding the load taken of site
or institute etc. One more important consideration in microgrid
design is the future load growth especially when the microgrid
will have to operate in island mode. However the issue of load
shedding may not rise if the installed power generation units
have capacities of 15-20more than the present load demand.
A. LOAD PROFILE, DEMAND AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOURSES
The first important consideration to design a microgrid is
to obtain the load profile, total demand of each section or
block and the dynamic behavior of load. In this research
work an educational institute has been taken as a case study
and a microgrid system is to be designed for this institute
which will operate in an island mode only. The load will
be supplied power from the renewable energy sources and a
wellprotected system is also to be proposed for the survival
of microgrid system even in the situation of load growth.
The Balochistan University of Engineering Technology have

Fig. 2. LOAD ENERGY DEMAND (SEASONWISE)
four engineering departments comprises of teacher offices,
class rooms and laboratories. One administration block, an
auditorium, an access center and a central library. The load
profile and peak power demand during summer, winter and
spring season is presented in Fig.2 The generators should
have a capacity that during light load an energy storage
system (batteries) is to be charged for future use. Renewable
energy sources are considered as a best option in design and
development of microgrid system. Fortunately the location
of BUET Khuzdar are such that it has a huge potential of
wind and solar potential is also in abundant. The normal wind
speed (as recorded by meteorological instrument installed at
the auditorium of University) is 10-12 m/sec.
VI. S OLAR PV AND W IND T URBINE S YSTEM
A photovoltaic (PV) cell has a photovoltaic effect and is
a non-linear electrical energy source. Its output voltage and
current is DC and the basic elements are the PV cell, shunt
resistance and a diode to block the reverse currents. The output
of the PV solar module depends on the temperature, light in-
tensity and load magnitude [11].The maximum power may be
obtained at some specific voltage level at specific temperature
and light intensity known as Maximum Power point Tracking
(MPPT). The photovoltaic solar panels that are selected here
have output voltage of 24V-DC which is converted into AC
thorough MTTP 50/100/150A inverters for a complete setup.
The solar energy is available in BUET, Khuzdar with huge
radiations and the cost per kW of solar panel in Pakistan is
1250 with inverter module. The useful life of solar panel may
vary from 10-20 years. The wind turbine convert the available
wind energy into mechanical energy that is again converted
into an electrical energy by permanent magnet or induction
type generators. A simple mathematical expression to show
that how much mechanical power is obtained from the wind
turbine with available wind speed. V= wind velocity (m/sec)
The power variations with different wind speed in m/sec. The
wind is available here in Khuzdar with an average speed of 10
m/sec. It can easily be depicted that maximum power is rising
gradually, but practically a limited wind force is allowed to
force the turbine blades. The blades may damage with high
wind force and therefore at different standard wind forces, the
power generation may be at some fixed level.
VII. BACKUP E NERGY S TORAGE S YSTEM
The energy storage system is essential part of the microgrid
since during peak loads and sudden interruptions the priority
load is normally feed from batteries or other storage system
(UPS). The proper selection of capacity of energy storage
devices is one of the main constraint in design of the micro-
grid. If the generation is lightly more than demand then it is
uneconomical to install huge number of batteries system. The
batteries are selected normally for lightening and computer
laboratories in institutes instead of running air conditioners
or heating load (as they consumed much more power). The
batteries selected in this study have capacity per unit of 200Ah
and an uninterruptable power supply systems are installed at
different optimum locations as discussed in the next sections.
VIII. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED DER
TECHNOLOGIES
On the basis of proposed distributed energy resources (PV,
wind and diesel generators) and energy storage system, the
microgrid is to be given a final shape for its implementation.
The load profile is matched and scaled with available genera-
tion sources and optimum units were selected. The next step
is to implement these generating units with such an approach
that overall load demand is meet.
IX. O PTIMAL SIZE SELECTION OF DER TO MEET THE
POWER REQUIREMENT
The basic requirement of a microgrid that will be operated
in an island mode should have a capacity of generation that
not meet the present demand but also satisfy future load
with ease. In order to design such a microgrid the wind
turbine units of 3.5kW, 5kW and 7.5kW are proposed to
be installed at different locations. The appropriate sites for
these wind units are Administration block, class rooms, data
center and laboratories. There is no need to install these
units at auditorium or offices because for the auditorium and
conference rooms the best option is the diesel generator as it
is run for short duration in emergency cases like convocations,
monthly meetings etc. The air conditioners are operated with
wind generators and for the class rooms first priority is the
PV system. If the PV cells are working properly and sunshine
is available then wind generators will charge the batteries.
X. C ONCLUSION
The work presented in this paper is focused on the design
considerations of a microgrid for an educational institute hav-
ing different sections with separate load profiles. Wind based
power and pv system are proposed to design the microgrid.
These units were selected in such a way to meet the total
demand in peak hours. The units placed at optimal positions
comfort the islanded microgrid. Cost analysis make it easy to
decide which generating unit will be the economical option
while the performance of each unit is test by matching and
scalling with load curves. The outcomes of the study presents
the necessity of the proper generation, a backup generation
system and energy storage system. A complete guidelines and
 [11]

Fig. 3. Flowchart of operation of microgrid system

procedure is presented make design easier for learners. The

design may withstand the future load growth as generation is
surplus than present demand of institute.

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