Managing microgrids with intermittent resources: A two-layer multi-step optimal control approach

A novel multi-step coordinated control approach for microgrid management is proposed considering economic and environmental aspects. The proposed concept consists of a two-layer control algorithm, the component-layer and the top-layer controls. Both are based on look-ahead multi-step optimization techniques. Assuming the availability of renewable power forecasting methods, future states of the microgrid are taken into account in the multi-step optimization. The component-layer control is utilized to maintain the power output from renewable energy constant for short periods while the top-layer control properly alleviates the severe fluctuations of the power output from conventional generators caused by balancing the output from intermittent resources. Regarding those aforementioned goals, energy storage devices play a critical role in both control layers. A typical campus-wide microgrid is carefully examined as an example. Simulation results of each layer control applied to the test system are presented demonstrating the performance of the proposed two-layer control method.