Enabling Resiliency Operations Across Multiple Microgrids With Grid Friendly Appliance Controllers

Changes in economic, technological, and environmental policies are resulting in a re-evaluation of the dependence on large central generation facilities and their associated transmission networks. Emerging concepts of smart communities/cities are examining the potential to leverage cleaner sources of generation, as well as integrating electricity generation with other municipal functions. When grid connected, these generation assets can supplement the existing interconnections with the bulk transmission system, and in the event of an extreme event, they can provide power via a collection of microgrids. To achieve the highest level of resiliency, it may be necessary to conduct switching operations to interconnect individual microgrids. While the interconnection of multiple microgrids can increase the resiliency of the system, the associated switching operations can cause large transients in low inertia microgrids. The combination of low system inertia and IEEE 1547 and 1547a-compliant inverters can prevent multiple microgrids from being interconnected during extreme weather events. This paper will present a method of using end-use loads equipped with grid friendly appliance controllers to facilitate the switching operations between multiple microgrids; operations that are necessary for optimal operations when islanded for resiliency.