Sizing and modeling a microgrid containing renewable energy production, energy storage, electrical vehicles and other green technologies

Abstract: Optimal design of a microgrid containing renewable energy sources in a residential sector is important to have a technical and economical feasible investment. In this project a microgrid (MG) for a house cooperative in Hudiksvall, Sweden has been studied. The aim of this study is to estimate how the electric vehicles (EVs) will aid the MG assuming different availabilities. Furthermore, this study aims to investigate optimal sizes of photovoltaic (PV) power and solar collectors for the households as well as possible energy storage capacity to increase the self-consumption. To study the role of the EVs in aiding the MG a simulation was carried in MATLAB/SIMULINK. To estimate the optimal sizes of the PV cells a life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) was carried out. The optimal output from the SC was estimated by using the f -chart method. The results from this study points out that a higher EV capacity will be required when the EVs are available for longer hours of the day, which is mainly due to the large share of PV power produced and the limited range of charging/discharging capacity of the EV battery. The LCCA shows that a high PV capacity will lead to a low net present value and a longer payback period. The sensitivity analysis which was carried out indicates that the PV system investment is mostly sensitive to the investment cost. The f -chart method gives the recommended values for SC output and an estimation of the thermal energy storage capacity.