Abstract:
Future generation power grids will require the introduction and deployment of distributed
energy resources to meet modern-day load requirements. Consequently, we expect to see a rise in microgrids
(MGs) existing as part of the main grid (grid-connected) or independent (islanded). Contained in these
microgrids are a combination of energy resources such as solar, wind and fossil fuels coupled with storage
devices, electric vehicles and smart devices supporting the prosumer operation. However, the addition of
renewable energy resources would mean uctuations in energy supply which would cause power system
instability if not managed effectively. Hence, to maximize the management exibility of MGs, the concept
of microgrid software de nition is introduced. A concept that can be looked at as giving the microgrid
an operating system to improve operation response and event detection by maintaining a global view of
the network. This paper therefore critically analyses what this entails by presenting an architecture for
Software-De ned Microgrids (SDMGs) and discussing the management opportunities that softwarization
of the MG introduces.We also highlight the design requirements and associated challenges in implementing
and deploying SDMGs.
