The advent of multi-Microgrid (MG) energy systems necessitates the optimization of management strategies to curtail operational costs. This paper introduces an innovative MG energy management strategy that integrates Chaotic Local Search (CLS) with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to fulfill this requirement. Our approach leverages PSO for extensive global exploration and subsequently employs CLS to refine local searches, thereby ensuring the attainment of optimal global outcomes. To further enhance performance, we have crafted a PSO algorithmic framework underpinned by chaotic local search principles, aimed at circumventing regions of local optima. The study presents a comprehensive MG energy system model that encompasses a photovoltaic generation unit, battery energy storage, and a micro gas turbine. The experimental data corroborates that our proposed algorithm secures optimal solutions within a range of 48.2–51.7, outperforming others in achieving these optimal resolutions. When juxtaposed with Scenario 1, there is a significant reduction in both operational and primary energy conversion costs by 24.22 % and 31.39 %, respectively. In comparison to Scenario 2, these figures are reduced by an additional 3.08 % and 6.05 %, respectively. The research findings underscore the strategy's exceptional performance in optimization tasks, as illustrated by the simulation outcomes. The methodology's application to a micro-energy network substantiates its practical relevance. Collectively, this research offers a holistic solution for the optimization of MG energy systems, effectively merging theoretical progress with tangible practical applications.