Voltage-Level Selection of Future Two-Level LVdc Distribution Grids: A Compromise Between Grid Compatibiliy, Safety, and Efficiency

Environmental concerns and new energy policies are making the energy systems to shift towards decentralization and sustainability. The electricity generation has been historically based on large-scale fossil and nuclear, even though, in the last decade the share of renewables has growth significantly. Microgrids (MGs) come as a suitable solution for the installation of distributed sources in the low voltage grid, where most of the consumers are sparsely located. Microgrids ease the integration of distributed generators (DGs), especially renewable energy sources like solar panels and small wind turbines, with energy storage systems at consumption level. By decentralizing the electricity generation, the production is moved closer to the consumer, therefore avoiding transmission and distribution losses, and increasing the efficiency of the electricity grid, as well as, higher power reliability.