Optimal management of shared energy storage in remote microgrid: A user-satisfaction approach

Abstract

This study investigates the utilization of renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage, to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel microgrid generators in remote areas. However, renewable energy alone is not enough to address the existing challenges. Therefore, to optimize microgrid performance, it is crucial to incorporate shared energy storage and demand-response (DR) strategies from the demand side. Additionally, prosumers engaging in DR often encounter user-satisfaction issues. In this study, we propose a shared energy storage model that considers user satisfaction in remote areas. Additionally, we compared three energy storage models: individual, neighbor, and communal, to assess their effectiveness. To validate our findings, we juxtaposed two pricing scenarios: fixed and time-of-use (TOU) rates. The results of our study indicate that using shared energy storage leads to operational cost savings and increases user satisfaction compared to other scenarios. Finally, we employed the social index rate and performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the optimal operation that balances economic and environmental considerations.