Multi-Micro Grid System Reinforcement Across Deregulated Markets, Energy Resources Scheduling and Demand Side Management Using a Multi-Agent-Based Optimization in Smart Grid Paradigm

Abstract

Multi-agent based small scaled smart grid reinforcement scheme is proposed to manage energy resources by enhancing resilience to supply power to critical loads in peak demand by leveraging demand side management (DSM) for smoothing load profile and optimal energy storage system (ESS) scheduling in response to grid cost. Interconnected microgrids comprise diverse energy resources that allow sharing energy to balance fluctuation by deploying a market that rewards cheap energy. Three stages are defined in this proposed scheme. In the first stage, without DER, consumption charges are reduced to 7.1% through DSM, but customer comfort is compromised. In the second stage, microgrids comprise RER; energy consumption-related charges are reduced to 92.2% by the feed-in tariff (FIT) Program. In the final stage, the inclusion of energy market for trading among microgrids (ESS, diesel and RER) resulting in reduced charges greater than charges incurred from the grid is defined by 122.1%. The findings show that the average power drawn from utility grid increased from 134.7kW to 205.3kW, and peak demand decreased from 591kW to 495kW. Integer linear programming optimization technique is applied to allow the optimal dispatch of microgrids generation to reduce the operation cost to 42.64%. Less reliance on the grid, flexible energy use, and avoiding costly electricity purchases are achieved through DSM, effective resources scheduling, and energy trading.

Keywords

• Inter-connected multi-microgrids
• multi-agent system
• demand response program
• market system
• optimized scheduling
• reverse power flow