A Heuristic Technique for Scheduling a Customer-Driven Residential Distributed Energy Resource Installation

This paper introduces a heuristic technique for scheduling a residential DER installation containing photovoltaic arrays and local energy storage, interfaced to the grid through a single phase voltage source inverter. The principal aspect of the technique is aligned with the smart grid initiative in order to provide customer-driven operation of the DER installation, while maximizing the customer´s daily profit. The technique is based on the DER installation´s ability to sell specified amounts of real and reactive power to the utility grid. The technique is implemented in an algorithm that determines the operating points for the inverter for the next 24 hrs of operation based on forecasts of the residential demand, solar irradiance, and the price of real and reactive power. The validity of the technique is illustrated through an example case study, and compared with the day´s operating costs of the same residence without local energy storage, and without a DER installation.