The application of communication architectures for the management of an experimental microgrid

An extreme flexibility of a microgrid operation requires general, integrated and hierarchical proper management and control systems. A wide variety of communication technologies from communication medias, communication protocols to sensors and algorithms are available for microgrid applications. The requirements of communication capabilities differ with the varying microgrid architectures, physical scales, control strategies, functions. In this paper, typical communication protocols are applied to the layout of an experimental microgrid (MG). A hierarchical control is then implemented in order to allow primary and secondary generation unit regulation of the MG.