Optimal scheduling of decentralized co-generation plants in micro-grids

The daily operational scheduling of decentralized units is an important optimization task of power systems. This proceeding deals with planing of small-scaled co-generation power units for electrical power generation and district heating in a micro-grid. The given micro-grid operates in an islanding mode. The scheduling of the micro-generators can be mathematically formulated and solved by an optimization algorithm. The solution process consists of a Unit Commitment and Dispatch. The starting Unit Commitment is characterized by a mixed integer nonlinear problem defining the on/off-state of all units. Subsequently, the dispatch distributes the loads to the committed units considering additional thermal energy demand. The Dispatch is based on a mixed integer linear problem. Additionally, a method is presented, which reduces the outage reserve related to the operational conditions. The developed method can also be applied to a micro-grid system which is operated in grid connected mode, considering the possible requirements of a grid operator.