Review of the islanding phenomenon problem for connection of renewable energy systems.

Abstract

As distributed generators increase their importance on the electric power system, more and more parameters have to be controlled in order to assure the proper operation of the utility. One of the main problems encountered with this kind of generation is the potential formation of islands which could keep working in a normal way even if the utility grid has failed. Many methods have been developed to prevent this situation and they have been classified into three groups: passive, active and methods based on communication systems. This paper checks the validity of some of the active and passive anti-islanding methods. Some of them are shown to work properly with any kind of utility and local loads in the potential island. On the other hand, some others would not disconnect the power generator when the total power of the local load fits that of the generator