Grid-Tied Distributed Generation Systems to Sustain the Smart Grid Transformation: Tariff Analysis and Generation Sharing

Abstract

In this paper a novel model is being proposed and considered by ENEL—the largest electric utility in Chile—and analyzed thoroughly, whereby electric power control and energy management for a 60-apartments’ residential building is presented as an example of the utility’s green energy program, part of its Smart Grid Transformation plan to install grid-tied distributed generation (DG) systems, namely microgrids, with solar generation and energy storage in Santiago, Chile. The particular tariffs scheme analysis shown is part of the overall projected tentative benefits of adopting the new scheme, which will require the utility’s customers to adapt their consumption behavior to the limited supply of renewable energy by changing energy consumption habits and schedules in a way that maximizes the capacity and efficiency of the grid-tied microgrid with energy storage. The change in behavior entails rescheduling power consumption to hours where the energy supply capacity in the DG system is higher and price is lower as well as curtailing their power needs in certain hourly blocks so as to maximize DG system’s efficiency and supply capacity. Nevertheless, the latter presents a problem under the perspective of ENEL’s renewable energy sources (RES) integration plan with the electric utility’s grid supply, which, up until now and due to current electric tariffs law, has not had a clear solution. Under said scenario, a set of strategies based on energy homeostasis principles for the coordination and control of the electricity supply versus customers’ demand has been devised and tested. These strategies which consider various scenarios to conform to grid flexibility requirements by ENEL, have been adapted for the specific needs of these types of customers while considering the particular infrastructure of the network. Thus, the microgrid adjusts itself to the grid in order to complement the grid supply while seeking to maximize green supply capacity and operational efficiency, wherein the different energy users and their energy consumption profiles play a crucial role as “active loads”, being able to respond and adapt to the needs of the grid-connected microgrid while enjoying economic benefits. Simulation results are presented under different tariff options, system’s capacity and energy storage alternatives, in order to compare the proposed strategies with the actual case of traditional grid’s electricity distribution service, where no green energy is present. The results show the advantage of the proposed tariffs scheme, along with power control and energy management strategies for the integration of distributed power generation within ENEL’s Smart Grid Transformation in Chile.

Design, Implementation, and Deployment of an IoT Based Smart Energy Management System

“…multiple loads (i.e., buildings, homes, industries), along with a datacenter which can handle the whole power grid. The infrastructure needs to satisfy the requirement of security, privacy, sustainability and reliability of the system [4]. The generic architecture of a smart grid with its key component is shown in Fig 1.…”

Incorporation of Microgrid Technology Solutions to Reduce Power Loss in a Distribution Network with Elimination of Inefficient Power Conversion Strategies

“…P DC.load.feed = DC Demand + P Rec,loss + P App.trs, loss (15) where P Rec,loss = Inverter loss P App.trs,loss = Appliances transformer loss…”

“…However, in real time, the power available for conversion is not always concordant with the power rating and at under-loaded conditions; inefficient conversion occurs, which results in increased power loss across the converters. Similarly, when the DC bus requires less power, invoking a converter to draw power from the AC bus might be inefficient [15]. Ignoring this power conversion results in an inefficient process.…”

5G Wireless Networks in the Future Renewable Energy Systems

“…The network frequency could be used to transmit load information without the need for an additional telecommunications network but would not support economic negotiations or quantification of contributions. The smart grid requires not only the technology, but also the cooperation of the electricity suppliers, their tariff payers and, above all, the regulatory authorities in order to become very efficient and effective (Chawla et al, 2020;Yanine et al, 2020). In addition, it also requires a full-fledged cooperation of all consumers of energy.…”