Energy Internet-Based Load Shifting in Smart Microgrids: An Experimental Study

Abstract

This study investigated a grid-connected smart microgrid (MG) system integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and a battery energy storage system (BESS) as distributed energy resources (DERs) to locally serve residential loads. The load-shifting demand-side management (DSM) technique was employed to effectively manage the load appliances. The proposed load-shifting algorithm relies on minimum price incentives to allow customers to allocate their load appliances economically during minimum price periods. The algorithm considers the waiting times and minimum tariff periods for appliances, calculates precise operating durations for each appliance, and prioritizes powering the appliances from the MG first, followed by the main grid. The system comprises two non-shiftable and three shiftable loads. When the MG power is insufficient to activate all shiftable loads, the system transfers the remaining unsupplied shiftable appliances to periods with low-priced energy. The Energy Internet concept is adopted to manage energy and monitor usage when a customer is unable to check the accuracy of their energy meter by supervising the system’s features on-site. The proposed comprehensive system enables load management, continuous monitoring, customer awareness, and energy cost saving. Six cases were studied, both numerically and experimentally, with varying MG power generation and load pre-scheduling periods, with and without DSM application. In all adopted cases, the implemented system save energy costs by at least 50%.

Technical and Economic Analysis of the Use of Electricity Generated by a BIPV System for an Educational Establishment in Poland

“…Another example in which energy management increases self-consumption from approximately 20-30% to approximately 50% is described in [21].This work focuses on the study of smart microgrid solutions with PV and energy storage connected to the internet with a view to optimizing the costs of electricity procurement. The authors of [22] achieved a 50% reduction in energy costs. Another example is provided in paper [23], wherein the authors demonstrate a hybrid PV installation, with management solutions that allow for increased consumption for their own needs from 7% to 18% in a monthly period, and 13% annually.…”

Evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Class of an Industrial Facility: A Rating System and a Scale of Sustainable Development

“…Difficult environmental, epidemiological, and geopolitical conditions that destabilize the world economy have a negative impact on the investment climate and orient the management of enterprises toward saving on all types of costs, including fuel and energy. Digital monitoring and energy management (EnM) tools are of great importance in this regard [6][7][8][9]. This research topic has remained relevant for a long time and is consistently developing in accordance with the emerging problems of national and global economies, as well as new technological opportunities.…”