Design, Sizing, and Simulation of a DC Microgrid for Real Implementation

In recent years, DC microgrids have grown in popularity because of their improved efficiency, increased reliability, and simplified control and management when compared to AC microgrids. Moreover, the number of DC appliances is increasing for residential applications. Thus, determining the best DC voltage for them is the key question. The current DC microgrid technology achieves high efficiency by utilizing sub-systems and renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, solar panels, etc. while allowing charge controllers to facilitate maximum power point tracking. In addition, energy storage systems, which help to mitigate power intermittency caused by the deployment of renewables, are an essential part of microgrid systems. Therefore, finding the ideal DC voltage level for DC home appliances is one of the goals of this chapter. Additionally, a thorough discussion of the sizing requirements for photovoltaic and storage systems for self-sufficient homes will be held. Lastly, a model for a small DC microgrid that will be installed later in a pilot region will be designed and simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The obtained simulation results show that the suggested DC microgrid is operationally feasible.