An Overview on Distributed Generation and Smart Grid Concepts and Technologies

The modern electrical systems should have high power capability, high power quality and reliability, high efficiency, high flexibility, low environmental impact (i.e. sustainability). Those requirements cannot be satisfied by traditional power systems; therefore, a huge revision of the present systems is expected with the introduction of many new functions, systems, and modus operandi, commonly referred to as the Distributed Generation (DG) and Smart Grid (SG) revolution. This is changing the way in which next-generation power systems have to be designed, operated, and maintained, and can be achieved only by introducing new technologies, functionalities, and operational approaches. This chapter gives an overview of the main technologies, features, and problems of distributed generation (DG) and Smart Grids (SGs). Due to the breadth of topics, this chapter gives a short but comprehensive overview of these emerging topics.