An overview of low voltage DC distribution systems for residential applications

The concept of a microgrid has drawn the interest of research community in recent years. The most interesting aspects are the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems at the consumption level, aiming to increase power quality, reliability and efficiency. On top of this, the increasing of DC-based loads has re-open the discussion of DC vs AC distribution systems. As a consequence a lot of research has been done on DC distribution systems and its potential for residential applications. This paper presents an overview of the LVDC distribution systems used in residential applications. Several publications that study the potential energy savings and overall advantages of the LVDC distribution systems are analysed. Different power architectures and topologies are discussed. The existing demonstration facilities where LVDC distribution systems have been implemented are also shown.