Integration of designing price-based demand response models into a stochastic bi-level scheduling of multiple energy carrier microgrids considering energy storage systems

Abstract

The aim of this work is to introduce a stochastic model for optimal day-ahead integrated heat-energy and reserve scheduling of a Microgrid (MG) that is performed by the MG central controller. In this regard, a bi-level stochastic programming is proposed for the integrated heat-energy and reserve scheduling of the smart MGs in presence of energy storage system (ESS) and demand response (DR) programs based on the maximization of total social welfare as objective function. Among available Incentive-Based DR (IBDR) programs, demand bidding/buyback and ancillary services market programs have been chosen to be included in the presented model. Moreover, optimum designing of Time-of-Use (TOU) and Real-Time Pricing (RTP) programs as Price-Based DR (PBDR) programs is embedded in the formulation. The PBDR programs are implemented using a linear function based on the concept of self and cross price elasticities of load demand and deciding on optimal PBDR tariffs is attained based on the consumers utility function embedded in the objective function. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is utilized to solve the proposed bi-level stochastic model along with to obtain the optimum PBDR programs tariffs. The proposed framework is examined on a 33-bus test MG and the simulation results are evaluated from different points of view of the model. The impact of TOU and RTP programs as well as the ESS are assessed on the results of scheduling as well as the operation cost, the total consumers utility function and the total social welfare.