A Framework for Resilient Coordinated Planning of Distributed Energy Resources in a Multi-Microgrid System

Abstract

The interconnection of microgrids (MGs) to form a multi-microgrid (MMG) distribution system enables greater integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into power grids. This paper proposes a framework for the optimal coordinated placement and sizing of DERs—including dispatchable and renewable distributed generation (DG) units and energy storage systems (ESSs)—in an MMG system to minimise total annual costs, covering both DER investment and operating costs. The model accounts for MMG operation under normal and emergency conditions, such as system faults or disconnection from the upstream grid, and includes the costs of interrupted energy. Additionally, a cost allocation scheme is introduced to divide the investment costs of newly installed DERs among MGs based on their earned benefits. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model and solved using GAMS software. The framework is applied to a test MMG system, and the results show that coordinated planning reduces the total annual cost by 7.3% compared to uncoordinated planning, highlighting its potential for cost-effective and resilient operation in real-world systems.