Energy storage control for a small community microgrid

A 300kW microgrid test facility has been developed at the University of Nottingham (UoN) to research and develop management and control strategies for smart energy communities, as well as providing a test facility for equipment developed for such environments. The facility is capable of creating a microgrid environment using real equipment (e.g. a PV source on the building) or using programmable power electronic emulators which can represent for example a collection of dwellings on the University Park campus or a 10kW wind turbine on the Sutton Bonington campus. The facility has been used to develop an energy storage control algorithm for a small community of residential premises with a wind turbine (WT) and battery energy storage. The algorithm optimises battery usage to the benefit of the consumer, attempting to reduce energy cost using peak/off-peak tariffs (e.g. economy 7), maximise self-consumption through charging from excess generation whilst offering a certain level of predictable operation by attempting to maintain a fixed cycle period within depth of discharge (DoD) and state of charge (SoC) limits. The energy storage control algorithm is validated on the laboratory microgrid prior to deployment in a real-life environment.