Hour-ahead energy resource management in university campus microgrid

Abstract

The management of intermittent energy resources by a microgrid operator (MGO) are a key aspect of future smart grids. A microgrid allows act as a single controllable entity and can operate in both grid-connected or in islanded mode. The present paper proposes a platform to be used by MGO regarding the energy resource management in smart grids and considering day-ahead and hour-ahead time-horizons. This method considers that the energy resources are managed by a MGO that establishes contracts with their client. The operator is able to manage the consumption and generation resources, also including demand response programs, obtaining profits from selling electricity to the main network. The model uses full AC power flow and the energy buying and selling from/to the main network. The case study considers the internal low voltage distribution network of a real university campus, and the projection of distributed energy resources based on the evolution scenario for the year 2050.