Quantification of economic, environmental and operational benefits due to significant penetration of Microgrids in a typical LV and MV Greek network

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effect of the use of a Microgrid Central Controller (MGCC) to achieve co-ordinated operation of various DG sources, storage devices and controllable loads with regards to the potential economic benefits and the power losses avoided in the local network is presented. Additionally, the effect of connecting numerous typical Microgrids in a typical medium voltage (MV) network regarding power losses and the emissions avoided is studied. The emissions avoidance calculation is based on the marginal emissions curve of the upstream network, quantifying also the calculated losses reduction impact on emissions avoidance. The presented results, based on a variety of realistic market prices time-series, various levels of renewable energy resource (RES) production and demand from different seasons, show clear benefits in terms of both losses and emissions avoidance. Finally, this paper performs a sensitivity analysis on the potential impact of the DG topology within a Microgrid on losses and emissions avoidance.

State of the Art in Research on Microgrids: A Review

“…The study in [97] compares different DERs connected to a practical microgrid using real valued cultural algorithm suggesting that solar and biomass gasification (a form of sustainable energy) units are more economical than fuel cell and solar. The study in [98] shows that using microgrids to meet the end-user demand when electricity prices are high would reduce their costs and pay back the investment cost. It also demonstrates the reduction of losses with increased microgrid penetration in the low voltage network.…”

Energy and operation management of a microgrid using particle swarm optimization

“…The optimization procedure depends on the market policy adopted in the microgrid operation. For example, two market policies are proposed in Tsikalakis and Hatziargyriou (2008) and Hatziargyriou et al (2011). In the first policy, the MGCC aims to serve the total demand of the microgrid, using its local production, as much as possible, without exporting power to the utility.…”

“…DG bids are considered quadratic, as presented in Equation (12), according to the cost function of the units, if any, the feedback from the market prices and the need to make some profit, necessary for the annual depreciation of the installation cost (Hatziargyriou et al 2011): …”

“…An improved PSO algorithm combined with Monte Carlo simulation is used in Wu, Liu, and Ding (2014) to solve the dynamic economic dispatch of a microgrid. Hatziargyriou et al (2011) studied the effect of connecting numerous typical microgrids in a typical medium-voltage (MV) network in regard to power losses and emissions. In Tomoiaga et al (2013), a heuristic algorithm for the energy management on stand-alone microgrids, which avoids wastage of the existing renewable potential at each time interval, is proposed.…”

Evaluating the impacts of the multi-microgrid concept using multicriteria decision aid

“…In the process of evaluation of benefits due to MMG concept deployment, the consumers within the MMG enjoys some benefits as well, such as, quality of service improvement, electricity bill reduction [9]. A proper evaluation of these benefits may lead to higher participation of the MMG consumers in the MMG installation cost and potentially to different final conclusions.…”