Scientific mapping of optimisation applied to microgrids integrated with renewable energy systems

Abstract

One of the most essential factors affecting socio-economic growth is energy. In addition to rising fuel prices, climate change has led to an interest in finding alternative sources of energy. Renewable energy sources, especially those based on hybrid systems, are very popular as alternative sources of energy. The integration of hybrid energy systems into the main grid has permitted the use of microgrids that operate in both on- and off-grid modes. The literature has paid a lot of attention to the optimisation of hybrid microgrid systems. To get useful and fair information for future research trends, this study evaluates three major themes (microgrids, renewable energy, and optimisation). Through a comprehensive evaluation of the literature on hybrid microgrid optimi sation and a review based on a bibliometric analysis of 2,307 Scopus records, this work employs SciMAT software to assess the state of this research area. Additionally, hidden themes and their evolution in this area were discovered from 2005 to 2021, and strategic diagrams were made to illustrate the thematic development and performance metrics throughout the course of three time periods. The findings show that this scientific subject is constantly evolving, which is supported by the significant increase in research papers, especially in the recent five years. Since 2016, studies have mostly focused on microgrids and multi-objective optimisation. In the first period, studies concentrated on smart grids and optimisation. A trend toward employing these energy systems as an alternative to conventional grids may be seen by the rise in research publications discussing microgrids that are integrated with renewable energy sources. The utilization of microgrids still faces various challenges, the most frequent of which are stakeholders, technical and financial challenges, and unpredictable renewable energy sources. This report provides a summary of the existing situation and identifies exciting new research opportunities.