Optimal peer-to-peer energy management between grid-connected prosumers with battery storage and photovoltaic systems

Abstract

• An optimal P2P energy sharing for grid-connected prosumers is modelled. • The prosumers use stationary, dual-tracking PV systems and battery storage system. • Prosumers have P2P bidirectional energy trading with each other. • Lifecycle cost and break-even analyses are conducted for the prosumers in the P2P. • Results demonstrate cost savings for prosumers operating with the optimal P2P model. This paper proposes a model for the optimal Peer-to-Peer energy sharing of grid-connected Prosumers. Current models within available literature do not include the constraint which forbid small renewable energy producers to share their excess power through the national grids; this leads to prosumers dissipating their excess power generated or using costly energy storage systems. Additionally, most of these models look at the savings made by the Peer-to-Peer community, without computing the cost reduction or benefit of each prosumer taken individually. Thus, these models are not suitable or directly applicable to many countries such as South Africa. For these reasons, the main aim of this paper is to develop a Peer-to-Peer energy sharing model that considers the above mentioned gaps. The proposed system consists of two prosumers; a residential prosumer that employs a roof mounted photovoltaic system with energy storage capabilities, and commercial prosumer with a dual-tracking photovoltaic system. The prosumers are connected to each other by power lines for P2P operation. The developed model minimizes both prosumers’ operation costs by maximizing the use of the power from the renewable energy sources; optimally managing the internal power sharing between the prosumers; and minimizing the use of the electrical utility operating with the Time-of-Use rate. The study uses the dissimilarity and complementarity of the load patterns in the South African residential and commercial energy sectors as an asset to implement the Peer-to-Peer energy sharing between the prosumers operating in these two sectors. Using a case study in South Africa, the results have demonstrated that, as compare to using the grid as sole power source, the residential prosumer can achieve a total daily cost reduction of 62.71% in summer and 68.99% in winter; while the commercial can achieve 81.31% and 31.69% in winter. For a 20 years’ project, using the grid as baseline for the comparison, the lifecycle cost analysis have projected the residential prosumer to break-even after 16.35 years and save 19.5%; while the commercial prosumer can break-even after 5.3 years and save 55.2%. Moreover, this study shows the ability of the developed model to simulate systems with different components, demands, resources as well as costs. The model developed in this study may assist researchers and engineers interested in the optimal operation of prosumers in Peer-to-Peer energy sharing schemes.