Comparison of Simulators for Microgrid Modeling and Demand Response

Microgrids are proliferating globally, especially in areas with unreliable utility grids and little access to capital. To minimize risk and the cost of investing in physical assets, simulator options offer affordable (and often free) platforms to quantitatively analyze microgrid designs and operations. Simulation results reveal many challenges that are likely to arise in a microgrid expansion or new microgrid installation. Microgrid simulators provide valuable models that account for a wide range of environmental and operational conditions that complicate real-world power systems. These models allow investors and grid managers alike to virtually test the outcome of different generation sizes and types, demand scenarios, energy storage options, and operating strategies. However, microgrid simulation is not one size fits all. The microgrid simulators available today vary widely in functionality and focus. Different simulators are better suited to different microgrid projects depending on project limitations, scale of supply and demand, and granularity of control needed (e.g., through demand response). Especially when a microgrid is being planned to provide first energy access in a rural locale, energy demand will vary widely over time and often grow rapidly in the first years of microgrid operations. Probabilistic models are needed in these cases to capture the full range of microgrid outcomes (e.g., service reliability, outage resilience, and incidence of power cuts). Regions with sporadic extreme weather also benefit from probabilistic models that account for rare storm and flooding events. This paper describes a broad range of microgrid simulation tools, including both deterministic and probabilistic options. The study presents seven simulators side by side and compares their features. Finally, it recommends specific simulators for different applications and stakeholders.