Microgrids and smart grids are emerging as the latest trending aspect in power industries. The smart grid integrates the technology dealing with Information and Communication in almost all aspects of power systems starting from electricity generation till consumption in order to improve the reliability of energy consumption and service, minimize the environmental impact, enable active participation of the consumers, new products and markets, improves the efficiency leading to more safe and reliable energy production and distribution.  

Despite the benefits, smart grid as well as microgrids face several power quality-related issues and challenges which are to be met out in order to avail the entire benefits of this emerging technology.  

This course deals the main phenomena affecting power quality, such as harmonics in voltages and currents, long and short interruptions, unbalance and voltage variations. Particular attention is paid to medium and low voltage systems which, as known, are characterized by a high number of cases. 

The effects that the mentioned phenomena have on the behavior of the main plant components, on users and on measurement and control systems are then discussed.