Microgrid Frequency Regulation and Optimal Sizing of Emergency Generator Considering VSG Coupled Electric Vehicles

Abstract

Recently, the transition from conventional to renewable energy sources (RESs), from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), and from the main grid to microgrids (MGs) are essential goals to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the stability of power systems. However, the transitions cause new concerns in the grid including technical challenges and financial viability. This study examines the RES-based MG under realistic conditions considering the uncertainty in fleet size of EVs, emergency generator capacity, solar irradiation, and wind speed in island mode. The work aims to provide effective solutions including conventional methods alongside today's trend namely doubly fed electrical generators (DFIG), vehicle-to-grid mechanism (V2G), maximum power point tracking controller (MPPT), voltage source inverter (VSI) with high switching frequency for technical challenges, and virtual synchronous generator (VSG) mechanism for financial viability. The paper provides a guide for resizing the emergency generators capacity depending on system instability. The observations verify that the control mechanisms reinforce the system to remain stable by decreasing the range of frequency fluctuation from 3.1 to <0.05 Hz, the peak point of frequency from 51.8 to 50.05 Hz, and the emergency generator capacity from 0.7605 to 0.3420 MVAr at MATLAB and Simulink.