Design and Implementation of a Microgrid Energy Management System

Abstract

A microgrid is characterized by the integration of distributed energy resources and controllable loads in a power distribution network. Such integration introduces new, unique challenges to microgrid management that have never been exposed to traditional power systems. To accommodate these challenges, it is necessary to redesign a conventional Energy Management System (EMS) so that it can cope with intrinsic characteristics of microgrids. While many projects have shown excellent research outcomes, they have either tackled portions of the characteristics or validated their EMSs only via simulations. This paper proposes a Microgrid Platform (MP), an advanced EMS for efficient microgrid operations. We design the MP by taking into consideration (i) all the functional requirements of a microgrid EMS (i.e., optimization, forecast, human-machine interface, and data analysis) and (ii) engineering challenges (i.e., interoperability, extensibility, and flexibility). Moreover, a prototype system is developed and deployed in two smart grid testbeds: UCLA Smart Grid Energy Research Center and Korea Institute of Energy Research. We then conduct experiments to verify the feasibility of the MP design in real-world settings. Our testbeds and experiments demonstrate that the MP is able to communicate with various energy devices and to perform an energy management task efficiently.

Energy Management in Microgrids with Renewable Energy Sources: A Literature Review

“…Figure 2 shows a microgrid energy management mode along with several features that are modules of human machine interfaces (HMI), control and data acquisition, load forecast, optimization, etc. [29]. Many researchers have addressed energy management by implementing different approaches.…”

Implementation of Optimal Two-Stage Scheduling of Energy Storage System Based on Big-Data-Driven Forecasting—An Actual Case Study in a Campus Microgrid

“…The MEMS collects vast amounts of data such as forecasts, measurements, market information, DER parameters, and the result of scheduling. These data must be analyzed properly to provide insights on how to improve the performance of the forecasting and optimization modules [36]. A MEMS should also provide real-time monitoring and control of a MG.…”

“…A MEMS should also provide real-time monitoring and control of a MG. This is performed by the HMI, and keeps operators aware of current MG status and delivers accessible information [36]. Turning briefly to communication, no standard form of communication for MEMS operations has yet been defined [37].…”

Coordinated Optimal Operation Method of the Regional Energy Internet

“…At present, there are some preliminary studies in the field of EI, including the research framework [8], the key technology [9], the planning and operation [10][11][12], prognostic [13][14][15], and network security [16]. References 8 and 9 summarize the technical structure and the key technology of the EI, which provides some considerations for related field research; prognostic areas include power prediction, predictive diagnosis, and predictive control.…”

“…In [10], the energy flow and information flow characteristics of the EI are analyzed, and the operation mechanism of a dynamic multi-agent system is established with the aim of minimizing the cost of energy supply. However, there is a lack of discussion on the combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) unit in the model.…”