Enhanced Robust Index Model for Load Scheduling of a Home Energy Local Network with a Load Shifting Strategy

Abstract

In this paper, an enhanced robust index model is proposed to optimize the robust level of home energy local network (HELN) due to the uncertainty of customer behavior. Numerous household appliances are considered, which are divided into three categories: 1) essential loads; 2) shiftable loads; and 3) throttleable loads. The proposed robust optimization is formulated to minimize the total energy cost and maximize the robust level and satisfaction level of end users. An enhanced robust index (RI) with the upper and lower limits of the robust level is integrated into load scheduling in the form of a cost function as well as additional constraints, to avoid excessive robust levels for some of the appliances and obtain a reasonable energy dispatch strategy. Moreover, a load shifting strategy is proposed based on a quick sort algorithm to improve the robust level and further reduce the energy cost of HELN. This paper investigates how the robust optimization strategy behaves in different demand response scenarios. Finally, the case studies and numerical results are presented to discuss the effectiveness of the proposed model through an integrative simulation approach.