Context and issues

The main difference between a minigrid and an interconnected grid lies in their respective inertia. Disturbances in an interconnected grid are fairly easily dampened thanks to their high short-circuit power. The rotating machines in interconnected grids deliver high power and have high inertia: this enables them to dampen any disturbances in the grid and deliver their full power for a significant period of time in the event of a short circuit (short-circuit power). However, a minigrid has limited short-circuit power, partly because of the low level of generation and partly because of the proportionally greater use of power electronics between generators and the grid. Minigrids are therefore potentially more sensitive to variations in their characteristic parameters than interconnected grids. This means that specific technical constraints must be defined, particularly in terms of managing...