Optimal Design of Isolated Mini-Grids with Deterministic Methods: Matching Predictive Operating Strategies with Low Computational Requirements

Andrea Micangeli, Davide Fioriti, Paolo Cherubini and Pablo Duenas-Martinez
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Andrea Micangeli: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
Davide Fioriti: DESTEC, Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Costruction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Paolo Cherubini: DESTEC, Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Costruction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Pablo Duenas-Martinez: MIT Energy Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: The lack of electricity access is increasingly concentrated in rural areas of developing countries, in which mini-grids are often a suitable solution; however, given the high risks, it is crucial to minimize costs. This paper aims at analyzing existing methodologies for the optimal design of mini-grids combined with different operating strategies. Typical system operations, like the load-following (LFS) and cycle charging (CCS) strategies, are compared with the more demanding predictive strategies based on Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP). The problem is formulated and solved with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), so to simulate traditional and predictive operating strategies. Two reformulations based on the proposed Search Space Update are also detailed and compared with the so-called one-shot MILP model, which is able to con-jointly optimize both the design and the operation of the system, in order to reduce computational requirements with the predictive strategy. The results, tailored with data from a rural mini-grid in Kenya, highlight that heuristic methodologies can perform better than the traditional MILP approach, both in terms of optimality and computational time, especially when advanced operating strategies are considered. Conventional operating strategies (LFS or CCS) appear to be sub-optimal, but require very little computational requirements, which makes them suitable for preliminary designs.

Keywords: isolated hybrid system; microgrids; Mixed integer linear programming; off-grid energy system; Search Space Update (SSU) (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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