Electricity demand shifting and reduction still raise a huge interest for end-users at the household level, especially because of the ongoing design of a dynamic pricing approach. In particular, end-users must act as the starting point for decreasing their consumption during peak hours to prevent the need to extend the grid and thus save considerable costs. This article points out the relevance of a fuzzy logic algorithm to efficiently predict short term load consumption (STLC). This approach is the cornerstone of a new home energy management (HEM) algorithm which is able to optimize the cost of electricity consumption, while smoothing the peak demand. The fuzzy logic modeling involves a strong reliance on a complete database of real consumption data from many instrumented show houses. The proposed HEM algorithm enables any end-user to manage his electricity consumption with a high degree of flexibility and transparency, and "reshape" the load profile. For example, this can be mainly achieved using smart control of a storage system coupled with remote management of the electric appliances. The simulation results demonstrate that an accurate prediction of STLC gives the possibility of achieving optimal planning and operation of the HEM system.

This paper deals with a new highly modular simulation tool, named as "PVLab" and developed by the GREMAN laboratory, to better size photovoltaic (PV) installations. The programming structure and the physical models implemented within this simulation tool are explained. Several case studies are proposed to highlight the relevance of this new simulation tool. The yearly virtual electrical energy production results of grid-connected PV plants are discussed. In particular, these results are compared with the PVsyst tool ones. PVLab has a high level of flexibility, allowing modifying the physical models and databases (for instance, meteorological data) according the users' needs. This is permitted through the expertise in all the computing steps and particularly, the MATLAB development environment. Controlling the source code gives itself a huge potential in the field of renewable energy applications in comparison with PVsyst which is currently the commercial reference. This point is particularly discussed at the end of the paper.

Controlling the cost of electricity consumption remains a major concern, particularly in the residential sector. Smart home electricity management systems (HEMS) are becoming increasingly popular for providing uninterrupted power and improved power quality, as well as for reducing the cost of electricity consumption. When power transfer is required between a storage system and the AC grid, and vice versa, these HEMS require the use of a bidirectional DC–AC converter. This paper emphasizes the potential value of an almost unexplored topology, the design of which was based on the generation of sinusoidal signals from sinusoidal half waves. A DC–DC stage, which behaved as a configurable voltage source, was in series with a DC–AC stage, i.e., an H-bridge, to achieve an architecture that could operate in both grid and off-grid configurations. Wide bandgap power switches (silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors [MOSFETs]), combined with appropriate control strategies, were the keys to increasing compactness of the converter while ensuring good performance, especially in terms of efficiency. The converter was configured to automatically change the operating mode, i.e., inverter or rectifier in power factor correction mode, according to an instruction issued by the HEMS; the latter being integrated in the control circuit with automatic duty cycle management. Therefore, the HEMS set the amount of energy to be injected into the grid or to be stored. The experimental results validate the operating modes of the proposed converter and demonstrate the relevance of such a topology when combined with an HEMS, especially in the case of an AC grid connection. The efficiency measurements of the bidirectional DC–AC converter, performed in grid-connected inverter mode, show that we exceeded the efficiency target of 95% over the entire output power range studied, i.e., from 100 W to 1.5 kW.

The management of the electrical energy still raises a huge interest for end-users at the household level. Home electricity management systems (HEMS) have recently emerged both to warrant uninterruptible power and high power quality, and to decrease the cost of electricity consumption, by either shifting it in off peak time or smoothing it. Such a HEMS requires a bidirectional DC-AC converter, specifically when an energy transfer is required between a storage system and the AC-grid, and vice versa. This article points out the relevance of an innovative topology based on sinusoidal waveforms from the generation of sine half-waves. Such a topology is based on a DC-DC stage equivalent to an adjustable output voltage source and a DC-AC stage (H-bridge) which are in series. The results of a complete experimental procedure prove the feasibility to improve the power quality of the output signals in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD-values about 5%). The complexity of the proposed converter is minimized in comparison with multilevel topologies. Finally, wide band-gap semiconductor devices (SiC MOSFETs) are helpful both to warrant the compactness and the high efficiency (about 96%) of the bidirectional converter, whatever its operation mode (inverter or rectifier mode).

The management of electricity consumption still represents a major issue, and particularly in individual housing mainly to find a good balance between production and consumption. Attention must be focused on the optimization of the cost of electricity consumption and, at the same time, the peak demand. Regarding a smart home management system, the inverter has a central role. Voltage and current bidirectional features are of utmost importance, specifically when an energy transfer is required from a storage system and the AC-grid, and vice versa. This article deals with an innovative bidirectional inverter topology based on sinusoidal waveforms from the generation of sine half-waves. The main challenges are both to improve the power quality of the output signals in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD), and minimize the complexity of the whole converter. Wide band-gap semiconductor devices (SiC MOSFETs) are used to optimize the efficiency of the DC-AC converter while minimizing its size and its weight. Many experimental measurements with low output power (lower than 1 kW) point out the relevance of this kind of topology.

In this article, a new software tool named "ECCO" is introduced. This one is intended to highlight money savings from a home electricity management system. The simulation is based on a complete database of real electricity consumption patterns of AC loads. Two case studies are particularly described to point out the relevance of such a simulation tool. The first one consists in postponing the power demand using the delay start function of home appliances. The second one enables to smooth the electricity consumption from a storage system coupled with a converter. The management strategy described in this article uses the difference between electricity prices in peak time and off-peak time. The results demonstrate that this strategy is currently not profitable in France, but it is much more cost-effective in countries, such as in Australia, where this gap of pricing is higher.

Minimizing the effect of crosstalk between adjacent traces on printed circuit boards is always a challenging process, particularly in planar power devices. Many methods used to warrant sufficient electromagnetic compatibility, such as the addition of guard trace using via holes or the use of serpentine guard trace, have already been described in the literature. However, those methods may induce some issues related to the manufacturing of the PCB. In this paper, an original form of guard trace, which is composed of microstrip steps in the width, was designed and evaluated. This new guard trace acts as a microstrip filter. The electrical modeling and the simulation results of the proposed solution point out the significant reduction of the crosstalk effect (higher than 80%), while, at the same time, warranting an easier manufacturing process of the PCB.

In this article, a Fuzzy Logic algorithm (MATLAB environment) is descripted to better predict and manage electricity consumption in individual housing. Several measurements were performed in 3 houses to have an idea of typical electrical energy consumptions. Without any prediction model, the simulation results of the management system exhibit that it is not possible to smooth all peak demands. In particular, this smoothing is in chronological sequence. Using the prediction and management modeling, the highest peak demands can be forecasted. As a consequence, if the house is composed of a storage system, all stored electricity can be reinjected during the highest peak periods. Finally, the system proposed here provides safety guarantees, and particularly during AC-line disconnection.