Abstract
Microgrids are clusters of distributed energy resources, energy storagesystems and loads which are capable of operating in grid-connected as well as in offgridmodes. In the off-grid mode, the energy resources supply the demand whilemaintaining the voltage and frequency within acceptable limits whereas in the gridconnectedmode, the energy resources supply the maximum or nominal power and thenetwork voltage and frequency is maintained by the grid. This chapter first summarizesthe structure and control principles of microgrids. It then briefly introduces thestructures and control perspectives of distribution static compensators (DSTATCOMs).Finally, some applications of DSTATCOMs are discussed in microgrids. Theintroduced applications are power quality improvement due to the presence ofnonlinear and unbalanced loads, voltage regulation and balancing, and interphasepower circulation in the case of the presence of single-phase energy resources withunequal distribution amongst phases. Each application is illustrated by examples,realized in PSCAD/EMTDC.