Strategic Renewable Integration for Resilient Power Systems: Insights from Kefallonia Island

The current evolution of power systems from a unidirectional to a multi-directional power flow system, in which Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are increasing, directly impacts the way they are being operated to ensure the security and quality of electrical supply and the resilient performance of the electrical grid as a whole. Additionally, the functional capability of the active distribution network is continually challenged by extreme weather conditions and unforeseen events. As such, the imperative for developing and implementing advanced resilience strategies within distribution networks has never been more critical, ensuring they are not only robust but also agile in the face of increasingly unpredictable challenges. In the wake of extreme events, fast recovery and system stability of the network are investigated. Optimal utilization of available resources is the key to system resilience. Studying the performance of the power network of Kefallonia island in two case studies (single-fault and multiple-fault), the results prove that among the available resources that are required for the resilience and the minimization of the catastrophic consequences due to extreme events, microgrids should be incorporated as a building block for the future grid.