What control strategy is used for power sharing in a decentralized DC microgrid?

DC voltage droop control is commonly used so multiple sources can share load power without relying on high-speed communication.

How do bidirectional DC-DC converters support battery storage in a DC microgrid?

They regulate battery charging and discharging, allowing the storage system to absorb surplus energy or supply power during demand peaks.

What is the difference between primary and secondary control in a DC microgrid?

Primary control provides fast voltage stabilization and power sharing, while secondary control restores the DC bus voltage to its reference value.

Free Course Image Dc Microgrid and Control System

Free online course Dc Microgrid and Control System

Duration of the online course: 21 hours and 6 minutes

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Build job-ready DC microgrid control skills in this free online course, from converters to droop sharing—ideal for electricians seeking modern power systems training.

In this free course, learn about

Microgrid concepts: definition, distributed generation roles, and DC vs conventional power systems
Primary control objectives in DC microgrids and key fast-timescale control after islanding
P/Q control and control mapping in LV microgrids (R>>X) and PCC interconnection flexibility
Active power flow control in DC microgrids (primarily via DC bus voltage) and droop-based sharing
Energy storage role in DC microgrids and bidirectional interfacing for charge/discharge control
Power electronics foundations for microgrids: VSC behavior, PWM benefits, and modulation methods
Conditions for stable operation of single-phase PWM VSC rectifiers interfacing a DC microgrid
Converter modeling for microgrids: AC/DC, DC/AC, and DC/DC average models and control
Dual Active Bridge bidirectional DC-DC converter power control (phase-shift control principle)
Renewable resource modeling: variable-speed wind systems and MPPT without wind-speed sensors
PV system modeling: simplest PV cell equivalent circuit and PV chopper average relations
Energy storage modeling and cascaded control of supercapacitor charging via buck converter
Microgrid dynamics, operating modes, and standards for grid-connected/islanded operation
DC-link capacitor function in PQ-controlled inverter-based DGs in grid-connected microgrids

About the free online course

Modern buildings, factories, EV infrastructure and renewable installations are increasingly powered by distributed energy resources that must work together safely and efficiently. DC microgrids sit at the center of this transition, combining solar PV, wind systems, battery or supercapacitor storage, and electronic interfaces into a controllable local network that can operate grid-connected or islanded. This free online course is designed for learners who want practical, industry-relevant understanding of how DC microgrids are structured and, most importantly, how they are controlled.

You will connect the dots between power electronics and microgrid operation, learning why converters are the key enabling technology that makes distributed generation and storage usable on a shared DC bus. The course builds insight into bidirectional interfaces for charge and discharge control, the role of voltage-source converter behavior in microgrid interconnection, and why PWM-based switching strategies matter for performance, stability, and power quality. Along the way, you will develop intuition for how active power flow is managed in DC systems and how converter modeling choices influence controller design.

A major focus is control architecture across timescales. You will explore fast primary control objectives that stabilize the system during disturbances or after islanding, then progress through mapping and coordination concepts that make decentralized operation feasible. Practical control topics include PQ-controlled inverter interfaces, the function of DC-link capacitors, and droop mechanisms used to share power among sources without relying on a single central controller.

The course also strengthens your understanding of renewable and storage integration by introducing modeling approaches for wind energy systems, photovoltaic equivalents, MPPT considerations, and energy storage dynamics. By the end, you will be better prepared to interpret real microgrid designs, communicate effectively with engineering teams, and apply DC microgrid control concepts in electrician-focused professional settings where modern power systems knowledge is increasingly valuable.

Course content

Video class: Promo of DC Microgrid and Control System by Prof. Avik Bhatacharya 02m
Exercise: Which prior power electronics knowledge is expected for this DC microgrid and control course?
Video class: Overview of Microgrids 33m
Exercise: Primary control objective in a DC microgrid
Video class: Concept of Microgrids 29m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid, which interface is typically bidirectional to enable charge and discharge control
Video class: Microgrid and distributed generation 32m
Exercise: Primary role of energy storage in DC microgrids
Video class: Microgrid vs Conventional Power System 34m
Exercise: Which interconnection method gives a DC microgrid the highest flexibility to control real and reactive power and to operate with different voltage or frequency across the PCC?

Video class: AC and DC Microgrid with Distributed Energy Resources (AC Microgrid Part) 32m
Exercise: Control mapping in LV microgrids with R >> X
Video class: AC and DC Microgrid with Distributed Energy Resources (AC Microgrid Part Continued) 31m
Exercise: Which variable primarily controls active power flow in a DC microgrid
Video class: Power Electronics for Microgrid 31m
Exercise: Which interface is typically used to connect an energy storage system to a DC microgrid for both charging and discharging?

Video class: Power Electronic Converters in Microgrid Applications 32m
Exercise: In DC microgrid interfaces, which statement correctly describes a Voltage Source Converter (VSC)?
Video class: Power Electronic Converters in Microgrid Applications (Power Electronic for Interfacing) 31m
Exercise: Condition for proper operation of a single phase PWM voltage source rectifier interfacing a DC microgrid
Video class: Power Electronic Converters in Microgrid Applications (Converter Modulation Techniques) 30m
Exercise: What is the main benefit of using PWM in converters within a DC microgrid?
Video class: Modeling of Converters in Microgrid Power System (AC/DC and DC/AC Converters Modeling) 34m
Exercise: Controlling P and Q in a voltage-source PWM rectifier
Video class: Modeling of Power Converters in Microgrid Power System (DC/DC Converter Modeling and Control) 30m
Exercise: What primary control method regulates power flow in a dual active bridge isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter?

Video class: Modeling of Renewable Energy Resources (Modeling of Wind Energy System) 31m
Exercise: Which MPPT method for variable-speed wind turbines does not require a wind speed sensor?
Video class: Modeling of Renewable Energy Resources (Modeling of Photovoltaic System) 24m
Exercise: What is the simplest equivalent circuit of a photovoltaic cell?
Video class: Modeling of Energy Storage System 35m
Exercise: In a cascaded controller for charging a supercapacitor in a DC microgrid via a buck converter, which loop arrangement ensures robust control in continuous conduction?
Video class: Microgrid Dynamics and Modeling 26m
Exercise: Average model relation for PV chopper voltage in a DC microgrid
Video class: Microgrid Dynamics and Modeling (continued) 36m
Exercise: Which control level in a DC microgrid operates at the fastest timescale and maintains voltage and frequency stability immediately after islanding?

Video class: Microgrid Operation Modes and Standards (Part-I) 31m
Exercise: What is the primary role of the DC-link capacitor in PQ-controlled inverter-based DGs in a grid-connected microgrid?
Video class: Microgrid Operation Modes and Standards (Part-II) 33m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid with decentralized coordination, which variable is drooped to achieve power sharing among sources?
Video class: Microgrid Control Architectures 30m
Exercise: Which control is preferred in grid connected operation to regulate real and reactive power while the grid fixes voltage and frequency
Video class: Microgrid Control Architectures (continued) 32m
Exercise: Master-slave control in islanded microgrids: which mode does the master use?

Video class: Intelligent Microgrid Operation and Control 34m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid control architecture, what is a key role of a fuzzy logic controller when used with a PI controller?
Video class: Intelligent Microgrid Operation and Control (continued) 32m
Exercise: In DC microgrid control, which method is most suitable for tuning PI gains while avoiding local minima associated with gradient-descent backpropagation?
Video class: Intelligent Microgrid Operation and Control (continued) 31m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid hierarchical control, which level coordinates optimal power flow among microgrids and the main grid
Video class: Energy Management in Microgrid System (continued) 35m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid with high renewable penetration, which ESS control method is used to limit rapid changes in generation and keep power variations within a specified rate?

Video class: DC Microgrid System Architecture and AC Interface 29m
Exercise: Role of the LCL Filter in Grid-Interface AC-DC Converters
Video class: DC Microgrid System Architecture and AC Interface (Continued) 32m
Exercise: Why is a bipolar LVDC topology often preferred for larger or high reliability DC microgrids
Video class: DC Microgrid System Architecture and AC Interface (continued) 30m
Exercise: Which DC microgrid architecture offers the highest reliability by enabling fault isolation and power rerouting through multiple AC interfaces and redundant buses
Video class: DC Microgrid Dynamics and Modeling 30m
Exercise: DC bus voltage dynamics in a PV DC microgrid
Video class: DC Microgrid Dynamics and Modeling (continued) 29m
Exercise: Which statement best describes DC bus capacitor sizing for single-phase vs three-phase grid connections at unity power factor in a DC microgrid inverter?
Video class: Control of DC Microgrid System 31m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid, what best describes voltage droop control?
Video class: Control of DC Microgrid System (continued) 31m
Exercise: Primary role of the slack terminal in an autonomous DC microgrid
Video class: Applications of DC Microgrids 31m
Exercise: Fast transient balancing element in a DC microgrid

Video class: Stability in Microgrid 31m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid with a hybrid energy storage system, what is the primary role of the ultracapacitor?
Video class: Stability Analysis of DC Microgrid 29m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid with constant power loads, what is the immediate effect when the DC bus voltage drops?
Video class: Stability Analysis of DC Microgrid (continued) 29m
Exercise: Purpose of the source-side input filter in a DC microgrid feeding a POL converter
Video class: DC Microgrid Stabilization Strategies (passive damping method) 29m
Exercise: Stability condition for an LC input filter with a constant power load in a DC microgrid
Video class: DC Microgrid Stabilization Strategies (Impedance/Admittance stability criteria) 27m
Exercise: Which load type most likely introduces negative small signal impedance in a DC microgrid, risking small signal instability?
Video class: DC microgrid stabilization using nonlinear Techniques 32m
Exercise: Which control approach best ensures large-signal stability in a DC microgrid with constant power loads during sudden perturbations?
Video class: General Summary of DC Microgrids 34m
Exercise: In a DC microgrid, which strategy is commonly used for decentralized power sharing among distributed generators?

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