DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY INTERCONNECTING DC MICROGRID WITH HIGHER VOLTAGE DC BUS AND RELATED METHODS

A device for electrically connecting a direct current (DC) microgrid to a DC bus of an electrical power network, which is operating at a higher voltage than the microgrid, comprises a pair of electrical port each configured for connection with either the DC bus or the microgrid; a DC-DC power converter operatively interconnecting the electrical ports for power transmission therebetween from a first voltage at the port connected to the DC bus to a lower second voltage at the port connected to the DC microgrid; a DC circuit breaker connected between the DC-DC power converter and one of the electrical ports for selectively conducting current therebetween; and a controller which is configured to communicate with constituent devices in the DC microgrid as well as a control center representative of the electrical power network in order to exchange information about electrical energy consumption in the DC microgrid and the larger network.