Optimal thermal and electrical operation of the hybrid energy system using interval optimization approach

Abstract

Hybrid energy system is an appropriate solution to meet the local electrical and thermal loads using different energy resources. The operator of hybrid energy system decides on optimal scheduling of its resources and trading power with the main grid in an optimal way. The price of trading power with the main grid as an uncertain parameter has an important impact of the decisions of the hybrid energy system’s operator. The novelty of this paper is to apply interval optimization approach for obtaining a risk-constrained operation of photovoltaic/fuel cell/battery hybrid energy system considering the uncertainty of energy price, which is a powerful uncertainty modeling approach. Using the interval optimization approach the objective function of the problem is transformed into a multi-objective optimization one in which there are two conflicting objectives consist of the average and the deviation costs of operation problem of hybrid energy system. This problem is minimized using ε-constraint and fuzzy decision making approaches. Moreover, demand response program has been used to help the operator of hybrid energy system to reduce its total operation cost. The total increase of operation cost with demand response program is 5.52% less in comparison with the case no demand response program is implemented while cost deviation with demand response program is 13.28% less in comparison with no demand response program case.