Energy management in microgrid and multi‐microgrid

Abstract Considered as basic structures of next‐generation energy system, environment‐friendly and flexible microgrid (MG) systems are potential solutions to address integration issues of stochastic renewable energy sources. Adaptable energy management approaches provide the possibility to construct effective and various energy interaction. The purpose of this paper is to present a problem‐oriented review of energy management in MG systems. This paper first comprehensively reviews recent research studies on MG, particularly in multi‐microgrid (MMG). Then, this paper proposes a concept of energy utilization model for energy management, which includes a discussion of modern concepts including MG, MMG along with picogrid, nanogrid and virtual power plant. And a synthetic energy management framework including stability, touch, efficiency, evenness, and resilience dimensions is proposed and formulated based on energy utilization mode. Then energy management system is illustrated from the perspectives of system function, management architecture, operation logic and data analysis, and further, a systematic four‐layer hierarchical architecture of management systems for whole MG and MMG systems is proposed. Moreover, key technologies in energy management are summarized and reviewed from the aspects of control, communication, prediction, optimization, and evaluation. Last, eight main prospects on the future trend of energy management in MG and MMG are also presented.