Control method and storage system sizing for PV-Diesel microgrid: From simulation to experimental analysis

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV)-Diesel microgrid system is considered as an efficient solution to help reducing operation cost and pollution emission on islanded sites, which are initially supplied by diesel generator plant. In order to ensure system’s stability face to PV production intermittency, technical solutions such as designing advanced control strategy or adding energy storage can be considered. To evaluate the benefits of those solutions simulation and experimental test are carried out. Two study cases are considered in simulation. The first system is a 100kW-scale and the second system is 10MWscale. Each case represents a multi-gensets system combined with a PV production. Simulations are handled with respectively rule-based and advanced control for a period of 43 days with different daily PV profiles. Indicators such as undistributed energy (UNE), fuel consumption and operating time are computed for each simulation. Sensibility analysis is performed for different PV installation rates. Experimental testing has been carried out on the smaller system. From these studies, benefit values of advanced control and storage system in terms of system operation cost and stability warranty for PV-Diesel system are demonstrated as well as storage system sizing dependence on system design and storage management strategy.