Application of power sensors in the control and monitoring of a residential microgrid

Advancements in sensor and metering technologies enable us to affordably collect more data than ever before and this data can be used to revolutionize the power industry. The ability to sense and monitor power characteristics in near real time and feed this information to control systems operating to optimize the grid enables better operation of both large and small scale power systems. Real-time power sensors working with a near real-time control system is necessary for a microgrid which has intermittent renewable generation and time varying loads. Knowing how much energy is flowing through the system is crucial for stable operation while islanded and is important to maintain economic feasibility. The application of advancements in cloud communications and embedded sensors can be used to augment the control of a residential microgrid through the real time data collection and control of both loads and generation resources. Using an advanced sub-metering system to monitor the flow of energy through the microgrid, a connection to the ISO's energy market, and local environmental data provides efficient operation and insight into the near real-time operation of the system. The data can also be logged for future analysis external to the system to allow for better future development of control strategies and can be used to make better predictions of energy needs and costs. These predictions can be used to ensure the renewable energy is used in the most economic manner ensuring the best possible equivalent price of energy. Such an integrated and predictive system can also store thermal energy inaugurating a paradigm shift from a “demand response market” to one that becomes an “availability responsive market”.