Linking exergy and homeostatic control to develop sustainable Grid-connected microgrids

Abstract

This paper proposes supervisory control strategies for integrating mini and micro-generation hybrid energy systems (HES) to the grid in a way that has not been done before: linking exergy and homeostatic control (HC) to develop sustainable grid-tie hybrid microgrids. The approach presented here seeks to reconcile power supply and energy demand response management (EDRM) upon achieving efficient equilibrium (homeostasis) between the two when providing electricity and heating to small, rural communities. Based on this premise, an exergy and HC approach is proposed to develop such systems for rural and remote areas in Chile and South America. Under this scheme renewable power—being a scarce resource that must be managed efficiently—is supplied only to homes which comply with a specific criterion in an effort to curtail demand to ensure energy efficiency (EE) and sustainability overtime. Simulation shows that indeed certain criteria produce much better results than others in incentivizing efficient electricity consumption. Surprisingly however, including an energy storage device proves revealing in the simulation results, showing that, contrary to what common sense would predict, it operates both as an enabler and a driver of EE and thriftiness making a positive difference in the overall strategy aimed at eliciting efficient energy consumption towards greater energy sustainability (ES) of the microgrid system overall.