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Optimal Operation of an Industrial Microgrid within a Renewable Energy Community: A Case Study of a Greentech Company

Author

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  • Matteo Fresia

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Telecommunication Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 11a, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Tommaso Robbiano

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Telecommunication Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 11a, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Martina Caliano

    (Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00196 Rome, Italy)

  • Federico Delfino

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Telecommunication Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 11a, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Stefano Bracco

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Telecommunication Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 11a, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

Abstract

The integration of renewable energy sources in the European power system is one of the main goals set by the European Union. In order to ease this integration, in recent years, Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) have been introduced that aim to increase the exploitation of renewable energy at the local level. This paper presents an Energy Management System (EMS) for an industrial microgrid owned and operated by a greentech company located in the north of Italy. The company is a member of an REC. The microgrid is made of interconnected busbars, integrating photovoltaic power plants, a fleet of electric vehicles, including company cars and delivery trucks supporting Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), dedicated charging stations, and a centralized battery energy storage system. The industrial site includes two warehouses, an office building, and a connection to the external medium-voltage network. The EMS is designed to optimize the operation of the microgrid and minimize the operating costs related to the sale and purchase of energy from the external network. Furthermore, as the company is a member of an REC, the EMS must try to follow a desired power exchange profile with the grid, suggested by the REC manager, with the purpose of maximizing the energy that is shared within the community and incentivized. The results demonstrate that, when minimizing only costs, local self-consumption is favored, leading to a Self-Sufficiency Rate (SSR) of 65.37%. On the other hand, when only the adherence to the REC manager’s desired power exchange profile is considered in the objective function, the SSR decreases to 56.43%, net operating costs increase, and the energy shared within the REC is maximized.

Suggested Citation

  • Matteo Fresia & Tommaso Robbiano & Martina Caliano & Federico Delfino & Stefano Bracco, 2024. "Optimal Operation of an Industrial Microgrid within a Renewable Energy Community: A Case Study of a Greentech Company," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-29, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:14:p:3567-:d:1439227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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