Control of Microgrids with High Share of Renewable Energy
The central question of this course is:
“How can electrical power grids with a high proportion of uncertain and decentralized renewable energy generation be controlled and operated safely and reliably?”
Using islanded microgrids as an example, we will explore this question and examine various control levels: primary and secondary control, as well as operational management. In this context, you will learn about centralized, distributed, and decentralized control approaches that enable the safe and reliable operation of grids with a very high proportion of intermittent renewable energy generation.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to implement and analyze these approaches using modern software tools and practical examples.
To participate, you can enroll in the Moodle course.
This module covers the control of electrical power systems with a high proportion of renewable energy generation. Islanded microgrids are examined as a representative example. The module explores key challenges in control and methods for addressing them across various time scales.
The module covers the following key topics:
- Introduction to microgrids and their hierarchical control;
- Modeling of electrical units in a microgrid;
- Primary control (in the context of conventional generators, grid-connected storage units, and renewable energy generators);
- Secondary control (distributed and centralized approaches);
- Operational control (Model Predictive Control, time-series forecasting, and stochastic optimization).
The course combines lectures, exercises, and short periods of independent study. During in-person sessions, students regularly work on short assignments involving programming, simulation, and analysis.
The accompanying learning materials include:
- detailed lecture notes and slides,
- interactive Jupyter Notebooks with examples and simulations,
- exercises with examples and sample solutions.
Students are asked to bring a laptop or tablet so they can work on the notebooks and complete small assignments during class sessions.
The course assessment takes the form of a portfolio worth a total of 100 points:
- Interim written exam: 30 points;
- Written final exam: 40 points; and
- Three programming and documentation assignments: 10 points each.
Exam dates, submission deadlines, and detailed requirements will be announced via Moodle.
Organisation
| Course team | Christian A. Hans, and Ujjwal Pratap |
| Dates (Lecture & Exercise) |
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| Degree programs |
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| Credits | 6.0 |
| Language | English |
| Moodle course | CMG WiSe 2026/27 |