SwarmGrid: Demand-side management with distributed energy resources based on multifrequency agent coordination

Abstract

This paper focuses on a multi-agent coordination for demand-side management in electrical grids with high penetration rates of distributed generation, in particular photovoltaic generation. This coordination is done by the use of swarm intelligence and coupled oscillators, proposing a novel methodology, which is implemented by the so-call SwarmGrid algorithm. SwarmGrid seeks to smooth the aggregated consumption by considering distributed and local generation by the development of a self-organized algorithm based on multifrequency agent coordination. The objective of this algorithm is to increase stability and reduce stress of the electrical grid by the aggregated consumption smoothing based on a frequency domain approach. The algorithm allows not only improvements in the electrical grid, but also increases the penetration of distributed and renewable sources. Contrary to other approaches, this objective is achieved anonymously without the need for information exchange between the users; it only takes into account the aggregated consumption of the whole grid.