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.
Highlights
The main aim of this paper is to provide the details of developing a hierarchical control platform for a low-voltage, behind-the-meter building-scale microgrid in an energy-efficient commercial building from the central microgrid controller to renewable and non-renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) and the battery energy storage system
Distributed energy resources consisted of solar PV, natural gas-fired microturbine, lithium-ion
TheThe distributed energy resources consisted of solar PV, natural gas-fired microturbine, lithium-ion energy storage, and associated communication and control components of this recently installed energy storage, and associated communication and control components of this recently installed microgrid and their individual functions were explained
Summary
Microgrids are electricity distribution systems containing loads and distributed energy resources (such as distributed generators, storage devices, or controllable loads) that can be operated in a controlled, coordinated way either while connected to the main power network or while islanded [1]. In [24], the dynamics of operating a microturbine and a battery energy storage system are studied; this does not cover how those DERs interact with a building as their load While these microgrids have many similarities to their larger community-scale counterparts, a common observation of these systems as a representative of LV microgrids is that they are experimental setups and do not serve main building loads. The main aim of this paper is to provide the details of developing a hierarchical control platform for a low-voltage, behind-the-meter building-scale microgrid in an energy-efficient commercial building from the central microgrid controller to renewable and non-renewable DERs and the battery energy storage system.
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