Energy Management System in Grid-Connected Small Scale AC/DC Microgrids Including Renewable Sources and Flexible Loads

Abstract

The growth of small scale microgrids with diverse distributed generations has drawn attention to their effective energy management. In this paper, for various energy scenarios, an energy management system is adopted to minimize the energy purchased by a hybrid AC/DC microgrid from the upstream grid due to high peak-hour energy prices and maximise generation from renewable sources, while adjusting the most optimal charge/discharge control strategies for flexible loads such as electric vehicles and storage systems, and the supply of non-controllable loads. In addition, peak shaving is simultaneously implemented in this proposed model without considering minimum power deviation as an objective function. Simulation of the methodology on a real-world solar car park in the campus of the University of Palermo shows its effectiveness and practicality for microgrids operators.