Artificial intelligence for operation and control: The case of microgrids

Research on artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced significantly in recent years. A variety of AI algorithms have shown great promise in a large number of applications for power system operation and control. This article examines the potential of applying AI in microgrids (MGs). Specifically, as MGs commonly employ onsite generation including an increasing penetration of non-dispatchable distributed energy resources (DERs) and require seamless transition between operation modes (e.g., grid-connected and island) for different operation scenarios, the energy management within an MG is particularly complicated. Many factors including lack of inertia needed for system stability, generation uncertainty from DERs, and complex MG network topology composition (e.g., AC, DC, and hybrid AC/DC MGs) contribute to the difficulty of microgrid energy management. AI techniques such as deep learning (DL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) have recently demonstrated their excellence in tackling problems pertinent to decision making, providing a possible solution to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. This article discusses the applications of AI to MG operation and control, with an emphasis on DL and DRL. We survey the available DL and DRL technologies and their applications to power grids. We also investigate the unique issues associated with MGs including their layered control architecture, single vs. networked structure, and topology optimization. Perspectives on the ongoing challenges and viable AI solutions to MG operation and control are presented.