Islanding Detection Techniques for Grid Integrated Distributed Generation -A Review

This paper focuses on the review of various islanding detection methods for integrated Distributed Generation (DG) system. Due to the advantages of renewable power generation, the grid integration of DG sources is increasing day to day life. One of the major problems with these integrated DG systems is an unintentional islanding. The islanding is caused in the power system, if DG supplies power to local load connected after disconnecting from the main grid. As per various DG interconnection standards, the islanding should be detected within 2 seconds after islanding. The islanding detection methods are classified as remote techniques which work on utility side and local techniques which work on DG side. This paper discusses the survey of various islanding detection methods with their performance indices. The advantages, disadvantages, power quality issues, Non Detection Zone (NDZ), balanced islanding detection possibility and standards of each method are presented in detail. This paper is very useful to the researchers for selecting the better method for future islanding detection.