Survey on microgrids with flexible boundaries: Strategies, applications, and future trends

•Comprehensive flexible boundaries microgrids review.•Recent flexible boundaries microgrids methods.•Flexible boundaries microgrids applications.•Future trends and research directions for flexible boundaries microgrids. The rise in power demand and initiatives towards distributed power generation bring attentiveness to microgrids. The exemplary method for utilizing microgrids is by making their boundaries adaptive. This is essential to meet the desired grid requirements and properly handle high penetrations of distributed resources. The concept of flexible boundaries microgrids has high potentials; however, limited research works have been done in this area. This paper reviews the flexible boundaries of microgrids strategies and applications. First, it examines the major differences between fixed and dynamic boundaries microgrids. Then it epitomizes the existing techniques and recent strategies that adopted flexible boundaries microgrids. In addition, this paper sheds light on the sensational features of flexible boundaries microgrids and how their implementation would enhance the optimal design, operation, and utilization of microgrids. Finally, it discusses the future trends and challenges of implementing flexible boundaries microgrids and highlights future possible research directions.