Energy Management System of a Microgrid using Particle Swarm Optimization and Wireless Communication System

Abstract

An Energy Management System (EMS) is required to control the flow of power and match generation with the load within a microgrid during grid-connected and islanded modes of operation. An optimisation algorithm is needed to minimise the cost of the energy drawn from the grid, generated within the grid and consumed by the loads. In this paper, an optimisation algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm is used. Case studies with grid-connected and islanded modes of operation demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimisation algorithm. Also, since the EMS Control Centre is normally at a remote location from the microgrid, a communication system is needed to exchange information between the Master Controller of the EMS Control Centre and the Local Controllers of the various generators. A low-cost communication system has been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the communication channel required between the Master Controller and the Local Controllers.