Using IEC 61850 GOOSE messages in microgrid protection

The conventional upstream/downstream protection coordination approach and master/slave information communication method in radial distribution network can no longer satisfy the protection requirement in a microgrid because the loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) have stochastic characteristics and the topology of a microgrid changes over time. In the proposed microgrid protection architecture, to have the intelligent protection intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) with IEC 61850 communication protocol is applied regardless of grid-connected mode or islanded mode operation. Furthermore, real-time generic object-oriented substation events (GOOSE) messages and adaptive protection strategies are used. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed microgrid protection scheme are verified through the artificial faults conducted a testing microgrid built in the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) of Taoyuan, Taiwan.