Intelligent DC Homes in Future Sustainable Energy Systems: When efficiency and intelligence work together

Abstract

The evidence that climate change is real and most likely caused by human-related activities has made the international community consider a new energy model. Europe has led the initiative, moving away from fossil fuels toward renewable energies, while powerful countries such as the United States and China are lagging behind and still rely heavily on coal, gas, and oil as energy sources. Europe has set ambitious goals for 2020 regarding the increase of renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. The concept of a microgrid is perfectly aligned with the new energy strategy. A microgrid eases the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and energy-storage systems (ESSs) at the consumption level, aiming to increase power quality, reliability, and efficiency. The increasing importance of dc-based loads has reopened the discussion of dc versus ac distribution systems. As a consequence, much research has been done on dc distribution systems and their potential for residential applications. Furthermore, the growing presence and use of smart devices in homes reveal a promising future for intelligent homes integrated in the Internet of Things (IoT), where residential electrical power systems work in cooperation with smart devices to achieve smarter, more sustainable, and cleaner energy systems.