Development of a Control Platform for a Building-Scale Hybrid Solar PV-Natural Gas Microgrid

Parhum Delgoshaei and James D. Freihaut
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Parhum Delgoshaei: Engineering Division, Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA 19355, USA
James D. Freihaut: Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State, University Park, Philadelphia, PA 16802, USA

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-30

Abstract: Building-scale microgrids are a type of behind-the-meter microgrids where the building operator has control of the distributed energy resources, including, in this case, a natural gas-fired microturbine in addition to solar PV and battery energy storage systems. There is a growing trend in deploying behind-the-meter microgrids due to their benefits including the resiliency of serving critical loads, especially in regions with abundant natural gas. In order to ensure distributed energy resources are dispatched optimally for the desired mode of operation, a hierarchical control platform including a centralized controller was developed and installed. The platform includes communication and control infrastructure that interface with controllers for distributed energy resources and the building automation system of a recently built energy efficient commercial building. Based on desirable outcomes under different grid and building conditions, operational modes were defined for the microgrid controller. The controller is programmed to map each mode to respective operational modes for distributed energy resources controllers. Experimental data for test runs corresponding to two operational modes confirm the communication and control infrastructure can execute hierarchical control commands. Finally, dispatch optimization for a year-long simulation of system operation is presented and the benefits of the hybrid solar PV-natural gas setup are evaluated.

Keywords: microgrids; hierarchical control; microturbines; hybrid solar PV-gas systems; distributed energy resource dispatch optimization; battery management systems; demand response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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