Networked Microgrids: A Review on Configuration, Operation, and Control Strategies

The increasing impact of climate change and rising occurrences of natural disasters pose substantial threats to power systems. Strengthening resilience against these low-probability, high-impact events is crucial. The proposition of reconfiguring traditional power systems into advanced networked microgrids (NMGs) emerges as a promising solution. Consequently, a growing body of research has focused on NMG-based techniques to achieve a more resilient power system. This paper provides an updated, comprehensive review of the literature, particularly emphasizing two main categories: networked microgrids' configuration and networked microgrids' control. The study explores key facets of NMG configurations, covering formation, power distribution, and operational considerations. Additionally, it delves into NMG control features, examining their architecture, modes, and schemes. Each aspect is reviewed based on problem modeling/formulation, constraints, and objectives. The review examines findings and highlights the research gaps, focusing on key elements such as frequency and voltage stability, reliability, costs associated with remote switches and communication technologies, and the overall resilience of the network. On that basis, a unified problem-solving approach addressing both the configuration and control aspects of stable and reliable NMGs is proposed. The article concludes by outlining potential future trends, offering valuable insights for researchers in the field.