Application of Microgrids in Addressing Distribution Network Net-Load Ramping

In spite of all advantages of solar energy, its deployment will significantly change the typical electric load profile, thus necessitating a change in traditional distribution grid management practices. In particular, the net load ramping, created as a result of simultaneous solar generation drop and load increase at early evening hours, is one of the major operational issues that needs to be carefully addressed. In this paper, microgrids are utilized to offer a viable and localized solution to this challenge while removing the need for costly investments by the electric utility. In this regard, first the microgrid ramping capability is determined via a min-max optimization, and second, the microgrid optimal scheduling model is developed to coordinate the microgrid net load with the distribution grid net load for addressing the ramping issue. Numerical simulations on a test distribution feeder with one microgrid exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed model.