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Synthesis and Optimal Operation of Smart Microgrids Serving a Cluster of Buildings on a Campus with Centralized and Distributed Hybrid Renewable Energy Units

Author

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  • Daniele Testi

    (DESTEC (Department of Energy Engineering), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Paolo Conti

    (DESTEC (Department of Energy Engineering), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Eva Schito

    (DESTEC (Department of Energy Engineering), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Luca Urbanucci

    (DESTEC (Department of Energy Engineering), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Francesco D’Ettorre

    (DESTEC (Department of Energy Engineering), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

Micro-district heating networks based on cogeneration plants and renewable energy technologies are considered efficient, viable and environmentally-friendly solutions to realizing smart multi-energy microgrids. Nonetheless, the energy production from renewable sources is intermittent and stochastic, and cogeneration units are characterized by fixed power-to-heat ratios, which are incompatible with fluctuating thermal and electric demands. These drawbacks can be partially overcome by smart operational controls that are capable of maximizing the energy system performance. Moreover, electrically driven heat pumps may add flexibility to the system, by shifting thermal loads into electric loads. In this paper, a novel configuration for smart multi-energy microgrids, which combines centralized and distributed energy units is proposed. A centralized cogeneration system, consisting of an internal combustion engine is connected to a micro-district heating network. Distributed electric heat pumps assist the thermal production at the building level, giving operational flexibility to the system and supporting the integration of renewable energy technologies, i.e., wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and solar thermal collectors. The proposed configuration was tested in a hypothetical case study, namely, a University Campus located in Trieste, Italy. The system operation is based on a cost-optimal control strategy and the effect of the size of the cogeneration unit and heat pumps was investigated. A comparison with a conventional configuration, without distributed heat pumps, was also performed. The results show that the proposed configuration outperformed the conventional one, leading to a total-cost saving of around 8%, a carbon emission reduction of 11%, and a primary energy saving of 8%.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniele Testi & Paolo Conti & Eva Schito & Luca Urbanucci & Francesco D’Ettorre, 2019. "Synthesis and Optimal Operation of Smart Microgrids Serving a Cluster of Buildings on a Campus with Centralized and Distributed Hybrid Renewable Energy Units," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:4:p:745-:d:208613
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Paolo Conti & Eva Schito & Daniele Testi, 2019. "Cost-Benefit Analysis of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Collectors in a Nearly Zero-Energy Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Paolo Conti & Giovanni Lutzemberger & Eva Schito & Davide Poli & Daniele Testi, 2019. "Multi-Objective Optimization of Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Buildings with Prior Design-Variable Screening," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Francesco Calise & Maria Vicidomini & Mário Costa & Qiuwang Wang & Poul Alberg Østergaard & Neven Duić, 2019. "Toward an Efficient and Sustainable Use of Energy in Industries and Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-28, August.
    4. Rong-Jong Wai, 2022. "Systematic Design of Energy-Saving Action Plans for Taiwan Campus by Considering Economic Benefits and Actual Demands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Paolo Conti & Carlo Bartoli & Alessandro Franco & Daniele Testi, 2020. "Experimental Analysis of an Air Heat Pump for Heating Service Using a “Hardware-In-The-Loop” System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Pawlak-Kruczek, Halina & Niedźwiecki, Łukasz & Ostrycharczyk, Michał & Czerep, Michał & Plutecki, Zbigniew, 2019. "Potential and methods for increasing the flexibility and efficiency of the lignite fired power unit, using integrated lignite drying," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1142-1151.

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