Optimization of PV and Wind Micro Production for Smart Grid

Abstract

Renewable energy sources have become an attractive alternative to fossil fuels because they are unlimited, clean and economically viable. The current interest in the use of renewable energy is driven by the need to reduce the high environmental impact of fossil-based energy systems and to improve the quality of power quality in smart grid. One of the main problems of renewable sources is the impossibility of controlling the energy production due to it is intermittence. Because of this uncertainty, the voltage and frequency of the power grid can be disturbed and decrease the power quality of electric energy. In micro generation systems, this problem can be improved with the inclusion of intermediate storage systems. The energy stored in this system can be used as resource to assist the powering loads or as a form of avoiding abrupt changes in the transferred energy to the electric power grid (EPG). This fact could help to maintain the stabilization and, consequently, optimize the functioning of the EPG, optimizing the PV micro production. The introduction of micro production with intermediate storage can be considered fundamental for the implementation of smart grids (SG) because they allow a better electric management and a consequent cost reduction. In this paper is described a renewable energy micro production system for smart grid compatible with a photovoltaic and wind renewable sources with a battery bank as an intermediate storage system. This micro production system can follow the references of electric power generated by the SG and contribute for a better management of the electric energy. An experimental prototype was built with photovoltaic panels (PV) and has been traced values of some parameters for power quality. An approximate $25 \boldsymbol{\mu}\mathbf{s}$ response was obtained by the batteries for each Watt of power required by the SG.