No abstract

No abstract

Abstract:The objective of this study was to create a tool that will enable renewable energy microgrid (REµG) facility users to make informed decisions on the utilization of electrical power output from a building integrated REµG connected to a smart grid. A decision support tool for renewable energy microgrids (DSTREM) capable of predicting photovoltaic array and wind turbine power outputs was developed. The tool simulated users' daily electricity consumption costs, avoided CO 2 emissions and incurred monetary income relative to the usage of the building integrated REµG connected to the national electricity smart grid. DSTREM forecasted climate variables, which were used to predict REµG power output over a period of seven days. Control logic was used to prioritize supply of electricity to consumers from the renewable energy sources and the national smart grid. Across the evaluated REµG electricity supply options and during working days, electricity exported by the REµG to the national smart grid ranged from 0% to 61% of total daily generation. The results demonstrated that both monetary saving and CO 2 offsets can be substantially improved through the application of DSTREM to a REµG connected to a building.