Optimized power flow management based on Harris Hawks optimization for an islanded DC microgrid

Abstract This article presents an energy management system (EMS) in a DC microgrid (MG) operating in an islanded mode to control the power flow in the distribution network. The microgrid system considered in this research consists of distributed generation sources like a solar photovoltaic system, a fuel cell energy system, and an energy storage system controlled by an optimized energy management system. As the distributed energy sources used are primarily renewable, unpredictable weather conditions may cause irregular energy generation. These variations impact the power flow in the DC bus, making it challenging to maintain a supply and demand balance. Therefore, an intelligent energy management system using the Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) is implemented to enhance the microgrid’s performance and efficiency. The HHO algorithm is based on the hunting nature of the Harris Hawks, and the EMS is developed to maintain the optimal power flow and to handle the constraints. The performance of the presented system is analyzed with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) based Proportional Integral (PI) controller in different operating scenarios to validate the effectiveness of the DC microgrid system.