A Microgrid Testbed With Hybrid Renewables, Energy Storage, and Controllable Loads

Microgrids encourage and facilitate the integration of the proliferating distributed energy resources. In this paper, we address the needs of the largely unexplored region of the Middle East and North Africa by proposing a microgrid testbed with resources from this geographical location. The locational and temporal importance of the testbed data is a cornerstone in the motivation to design the system. The proposed microgrid testbed data reflect the special characteristics in the region, including the extremely hot and arid weather, in addition to special cultural events that affect load profiles, and hence the operation of the microgrid. The microgrid testbed consists of hybrid renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, and four load categories under a single-controlled and grid-connected entity. Together with the local utility grid, the energy storage systems, and the over 400kW rated average power of renewables feed the local controllable microgrid loads rated around 500kW. Real and local data from Saudi Arabia with multiple load categories are considered for the model to address the practicality and peculiarity of the study. Multiple case studies are implemented on the testbed to verify its performance and showcase its operation principle. Our results for example show the abruptness of the microgrid testbed controllers and storage devices in achieving energy balance, after introducing a 40% reduction in the PV output due to the shading effect. All testbed data can be accessed online to enable researchers to benchmark their findings.