Innovative energy management system for low-voltage networks with distributed generation based on prosumers’ active participation

Abstract

The paper presents a control system for the management of operation of the low-voltage (LV) networks with a large number of renewable energy sources (RES) connected in prosumer’s installations. The system is aimed to reduce power congestion and regulate voltage in individual phases of the network nodes. The applied strategy assumes using controllable energy sources and energy storage systems (ESS) located in prosumers’ installations and performing local energy management, on the basis of ancillary services. The ESSs and RESs reactive and active powers are used as control measures with the reactive power as a priority. The system strategy and control algorithms for the voltage and power regulation are described in the paper. Then, the authors present the results of simulations which were performed using the model of a real LV network with prosumer installations. Simulation results proved that the system is effective and the use of prosumers’ ESS capacities for regulation purposes is minimized. Finally, the developed system was verified experimentally at the Laboratory of Distributed Generation at Lodz University of Technology, using the Real Time Digital Simulator and the Hardware-in-the-Loop method. Conclusions found are that the proposed system can successfully solve operational problems in LV networks with high penetration of RES without the need of network reinforcement or use additional regulatory devices. The strategy based on the concept of ancillary services encourages prosumers to actively influence the network operation for benefits of prosumers, consumers and the network operator.