Off-Grid Use Cases

LF Hyphae program started with a donation from SonyCSL:

Sony CSL launches open-source microgrid project to automate P2P power distribution

The deployment of that program is captured in a nice video of the community in Okinawa.

DC-Ready Microgrids

With new advances in battery storage and PV solar generation, effective MESH  micro-grid systems have emerged.  Companies like SolarWorx and Bboxx have created an ecosystem that provides electrification solely based on direct current including low-cost devices for refrigeration.  For example, this map illustrates the growing number of mini grids in Cameroon, Africa.

Asimenia Korompili published a series of research papers covering specific challenges of DC Converter Controllers and optimization algorithms to address that space:

Distributed OPF Algorithm for System-Level Control of Active Multi-Terminal DC Distribution Grids

Failure-Tolerant Fully-Distributed OPF Algorithm for System-Level Control of Multi-Terminal DC Grids

Active Disturbance Rejection Control for DC/DC Converters in MTDC Systems

Active Disturbance Rejection Controller with Virtual Impedance-based Current Limiter for Voltage Regulation of DC/DC Converters

Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control-Based Voltage Controller for Buck and Boost DC/DC Converters in DC Distribution Grids

Non-linear active disturbance rejection control for three-phase dual-active-bridge DC/DC converter

The plan is to provide open source implementation of these algorithms as part of the LF Energy Hyphae program later this year.

Utility-Grid Connected Use Cases

AC-Ready Microgrids

Tadashi Morita has presented a novel idea of expanding the application of APIS by introducing the concept of Grid Partitioning Inverter to manage the current between the main grid and various micro grid scenarios.