Hello Researchers, I would like to do both simulation and implementation level research work on the smart grid. How should I start from the beginner's level?
First of all, you should decide the location of your Smart-Grid system.
Then, you can select what types of renewables (Solar PV+ what ?) will be installed in your system. Probably, you will add the Electric Vehicles charging systems at the Smart Homes of your Smart Grid System.
You need to consider the interconnection technology of your Smart Grid System.
You have to collect the data and then, model and simulate your Smart Grid System in the supportive software tool.
After that, you need to analyze your simulation results.
According to the amount of research funding, you can implement your Smart Grid System.
Then, you can consider your Smart Grid System be connected with the National Grid System and investigate what impacts from your System.
First of all, you go through recently published papers in the area of microgrids and gain knowledge about its operation and control.
After analyzing different papers, you will get to know the emerging topics in this particular area.
After gaining sufficient information, you can proceed towards the simulation of any microgrid model and observe its transient behavior. It would provide you the clarity about its fundamental control and then, you are ready to propose your own work.
Finally, you can take the help of real-time emulators such as Opal-RT, dSPACE for validating your proposed setup or you can implement the prototype of your model.
First go through books then go through literature i.e. published material (Research papers, review papers etc.). Then grab a study and try to replicate it on software, it will enhance your software skills. Once you learned about the topic and simulations, fetch researches and find research gap. After finding gap, start research on it, if you get fruitful results, then publish it.
It is easy to "sink" into different papers and information about smart grid. I think you might have some fresh research or business ideas in your head that you are going to realize in your specific location and conditions. Myself on your place would concentrate to test and develop just these, preferably unique ideas, not just repeating everything that has been done uncounted times before you. An overview of literature is necessary step for preparation anyway to see if you have an unique idea or you need to develop it further to overcome some essential problem or using some new possibility to improve smart grid.