Impact of emergency diesel generator reliability on microgrids and building-tied systems

Microgrids are an emerging alternative as energy backup system for critical electric loads and have improved performance compared to the traditional architecture where a single emergency diesel generator is tied individual building. Both architectures dependent on reliability of their generators quantitative realistic comparison overall two lacking. Using recently published work finite reliability, methodology presented compare microgrid based centralized approach buildings. Three metrics calculated function outage duration: (1) probability meet 100% load; (2) expected fraction lost (3) highest priority loads. It shown that stand-alone building-tied systems, even when used per building, cannot provide required sustain grid lasting multiple days. Due network configuration ability share load, generator-based configurations estimated ≥ 93% powering all buildings 2-week there has ≤20% probability. do present other susceptibilities site specific should be considered including vulnerabilities associated with on-campus distribution cybersecurity.