The role of digitalization in planning and operation of microgrids in emerging countries

Reliable power systems can enhance social and economic development. However, the unavailability of digital measurement devices, proper communication channels and electric grid models can hinder the planning and operation of electric grids, causing technical inefficiencies and financial repercussions. This issue becomes increasingly critical in the Global South, where power infrastructures are characterized by instabilities, frequent outages, and voltage fluctuations that have a negative impact on mini-grids and critical loads. To study and face this issue, this paper proposes an overview of the grid-connected microgrid of St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, in northern Uganda. Owing to collection of on-field data, a digital twin of the hospital network was developed and applied to analyze its operation, and to characterize frequency and voltage fluctuations. Finally, the authors propose a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to cope with the power fluctuations detected during the measurement campaign, causing instability of the system during the microgrid’s off-grid operation. Different sizes of BESS were simulated in order to analyze the improvements on the transient behavior of the frequency, showing significant improvements in the frequency profile even with an installation of a relatively small battery.