This chapter explains the positive impacts of the smart microgrid with respect to the sustainable building performance. The role of the renewable energy sources within the microgrid is also demonstrated. The solar photovoltaic energy source is explained in terms of the working principle and positive effects on reducing CO2 emission through reducing the needs of the traditional power stations' electricity. This chapter explains the advantages of the smart microgrid power system and how reflects on the performance of a sustainable building. The differences between the components of a DC smart grid system and of an AC smart grid system are shown. Different algorithms for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to improve the PV systems have reviewed in this chapter. A step-by-step overall design of any desired single-phase or three-phase alternating power of any capacity for a PV matrix-based microgrid system, in addition to the role and the importance of inserting DC-DC converter in the photovoltaic systems, is discussed.
TopIntroduction
The economical level of any country is affected by the level of energy technology and how this technology depends on the best choices of the fuels. For many decades, the fossil fuel plays a main role in this regard to meet the required electrical power to the consumers as discussed by Richard and Lucy (2014), Hussain et al. (2014), and Bierwirth (2020). Using any type of fossil fuels will negatively affect the environmental pollution due to the CO2 emissions and participate in global warming. At the same time, as mentioned by Min-Joong and Huei (2007), the fossil fuels dwindling leads to search for effective and efficient alternatives considering the human life quality, and reducing the level of air pollution as well. The authors Chapman (2003), Blaabjerg et al. (2006), and Grainger and Stevenson (2008) explained that any traditional power system represents a centralized system which includes the power generation station, and grid of transmission and distribution lines with many step-up and step-down transformers to supply the low voltage alternating electricity to the end users.
1. The Infrastructure of a Traditional Electrical Power Grid
The existing power system is representing by a central power generating and delivering to the end user loads. The existing electrical power system includes a traditional electrical power generation station, a set of step up/step down power transformers, and a network of transmission and distribution lines as mentioned by Hussain (2020), and Ali (2020). The electrical loads are dividing into two castigates, residential loads, and industrial loads. Different levels of load current may be drawn from the electrical utility by the residential appliances, in a range of 0.1 A to 25 A based on the electrical load type or function, for example a one set of LED lamp of 20 W/220 V can work with rated power 20 W, while an air conditioner can work with rated current 15 A. Whereas most of industrial field electrical loads can be represented by single or three phase induction motors of a different horse power HP range which can be started from 0.5 HP (1 HP = 746 W) horse power to many tens of HP as shown by Hussain (2017), Hussain (2020), Hussain et al. (2018), Hussain and Ali (2016).
Michael et al. (2017) showed a traditional electrical power grid in Figure 1, which includes electrical generators rotating by a mechanical power of a high pressure and temperature steam produced using fossil fuels. Step up power transformers are also included in the traditional power generation system to increase the level of AC voltage for transmitting with low AC current to reduce the transmission line losses. Whereas on the side of end user, there are step down transformers to have low voltage which should be suitable to be delivered to the connected AC loads as demonstrated by Shahzad et al. (2015), Anyaka, and Olawoore (2014), and Lei et al. (2015).
Figure 1. A traditional electrical power grid (Michael et al. 2017)