REVIEW PAPER A comprehensive review of distribution generation integrated DC microgrid protection: issues, strategies, and future direction Swetalina Sarangi 1 | Binod Kumar Sahu 1 | Pravat Kumar Rout 2 1 Department of Electrical Engineering, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 2 Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Correspondence Pravat Kumar Rout, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Email: pkrout_india@yahoo.com Summary The evolution of small-scaled distributed generators and emerging power elec- tronic devices opens up a new arena of power generation, distribution, and consumption. Operationally, the DC microgrid has attracted significant atten- tion as it offers considerable safety benefits, cost-effectiveness, energy effi- ciency, and reliability as compared to traditional AC microgrid systems. Looking at the protection aspects, the DC microgrid has some serious issues both for low-voltage and mid-voltage DC system. It needs to be focused on bidirectional power flow, non-zero crossing point, detection and mitigation of grounding faults, high value of fault current, etc., for an adequate solution. In recent times, these issues are considered by various researchers to arrive at a robust and reliable approach toward protecting the DC microgrid. But certain important areas are still out of sight for researchers. In a blend of conventional and modern approaches, there are many hindrances in developing a flexible universal protective scheme. This work focuses on the protection aspects paral- lel with the challenges and tried to unearth the loopholes which open up a wider area of research to develop a more robust protective architecture. An extensive review has been done systematically and chronologically keeping in mind the DC microgrid architecture, standards, protection hurdles, traditional as well as latest protective measures, and suggested some reliable improve- ments. In addition, the futuristic possibility to invent a novel comprehensive approach based on the best technology and techniques is presented in a more secure, reliable, and efficient protection system to combat the power system faults, keeping in view the different modes of operation and configuration of the microgrid. KEYWORDS Distributed generation, DC microgrid protection, Renewable energy sources, Protection scheme, Microgrid protection mode Received: 8 June 2020 Revised: 6 October 2020 Accepted: 23 October 2020 DOI: 10.1002/er.6245 Int J Energy Res. 2020;1–26. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/er © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1