Resilience-Oriented Energy Management of Networked Microgrids: A Case Study from Lombok, Indonesia

Building resilient and sustainable energy systems is a critical challenge for disaster-prone regions in the Global South. This study investigates the energy management of a networked microgrid (NMG) system on Lombok Island, Indonesia, a region frequently exposed to natural disasters (NDs) and characterized by vulnerable grid infrastructure. A multi-objective optimization framework is developed to jointly minimize operational costs, load-not-served, and environmental impacts under both normal and abnormal operating conditions. The proposed strategy employs the Multi-objective JAYA (MJAYA) algorithm to coordinate photovoltaic generation, diesel generators, battery energy storage systems, and inter-microgrid power exchanges within a 20 kV distribution network. Using real load, generation, and electricity price data, we evaluate the NMG’s performance under five representative fault scenarios that emulate ND-induced outages, including grid disconnection and loss of inter-microgrid links. Results show that the interconnected NMG structure significantly enhances system resilience, reducing load-not-served from 366.3 kWh in fully isolated operation to only 31.7 kWh when interconnections remain intact. These findings highlight the critical role of cooperative microgrid networks in strengthening community-level energy resilience in vulnerable regions. The proposed framework offers a practical decision-support tool for planners and governments seeking to enhance energy security and advance sustainable development in disaster-affected areas.