A sustainable microgrid: A sustainability and management-oriented approach

The energy utility sector's transition to an automated and managed energy endeavor in term of microgrid has hastened around the globe. Referring to the literature, the microgrid had been a matter of focus since decades ago. An exhaustive and customized project management methodology (framework) for microgrid projects can assure successful implementation and reliable operation. Such framework indispensably requires a multi-disciplinary investigation to cover technical, managerial, and sustainability aspects in a real-world application. For the first time, this study deals with these three domains also propounds a novel and customized framework for microgrid projects proper management, that comprising an optimum intersection of these certain measures. In addition to a glance review of the literature, this study tries to merge the project management principles and best practices into the microgrid lifecycle as an innovative practice that is emerging in the profession. The proposed methodology consists of the three main influential factors namely management, technical, and sustainability measures. Besides, this paper identifies the main challenges faced a microgrid project from initiation to sign-off (operation), as well as propound feasible solutions fit the identified problems. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.