Multi-agent based simulation of smart building cluster for electric grid stabilization

Abstract

With the increasing number of photovoltaic systems and heat pumps in buildings existing substations of the electric grid could be overloaded. A multi-agent based simulation of a building cluster studies the impact of building flexibility in regard to the residual substation load. Each building announces its available flexibility, e.g. "heat pump can be switched off/on". A master coordinator evaluates all incoming offers and decides which offers are accepted. This reduces the residual load at the substation. This paper presents results from a study of the impact at the substation of a smart urban building cluster with different penetration scenarios of heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, batteries and electric vehicles. It is shown that a high penetration of heat pumps and photovoltaic systems violates the substation's limits for the studied building cluster. Batteries cannot reduce the peak utilization. The master coordinator's load shifting options are limited.