Modelling, optimisation and management strategies for a microgrid with integrated thermal energy storage

This paper presents a mathematical model of a multi-energy microgrid and, in particular, of a power-to-heat thermal storage system, and a novel management approach for the microgrid including the hybrid storage system. A model-based exhaustive optimisation is the core of an intelligent management strategy, which takes into account both forecast costs and production data obtained from publicly available databases. The management strategy is implemented for a case study describing an industrial facility with variable thermal energy demand. Various scenarios are simulated to evaluate the effects of the management technique and the integration of the hybrid electro-thermal storage system. The effectiveness of the management strategy is demonstrated in a scenario with high penetration of renewable sources. Here, only the management of the renewable surplus is optimally managed. The optimisation is also used to evaluate the competitiveness of the thermal storage technology in energy markets with energy congestion phenomena. The results highlight that combining thermal and electrochemical storage under a discrete optimisation framework can significantly reduce both operational costs and carbon dioxide emissions, particularly when integrated with intelligent forecast-based strategies, making this approach promising for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industrial sectors.