Using a Microgrid test bed to evaluate the strategies for seamless renewable energy integration

The current limitations of infrastructure detain the power grid from meeting the requirement of the restructured power market and the integration of the renewable energy. The researches for the smart grid are necessary to develop the future power system. This paper presents the design, development, and hardware setting of the smart MicroGrid test bed at the University of Texas at Arlington. While the test bed can utilize the renewable energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels, and PEM fuel cell, it also has the capability of running in parallel with the utility grid. Since the smart micro grid acts as the basic unit of the smart grid, the test bed provides a playground for both research and education purposes. With real-time data acquisition and control devices, the operation of the smart MicroGrid test bed is also discussed in the paper.