An innovative stochastic multi-agent-based energy management approach for microgrids considering uncertainties

Abstract

In microgrids a major share of the energy production comes from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic panels or wind turbines. The intermittent nature of these types of producers along with the fluctuation in energy demand can destabilize the grid if not dealt with properly. This paper presents a multi-agent-based energy management approach for a non-isolated microgrid with solar and wind units and in the presence of demand response, considering uncertainty in generation and load. More specifically, a modified version of the lightning search algorithm, along with the weighted objective function of the current microgrid cost, based on different scenarios for the energy management of the microgrid, is proposed. The probability density functions of the solar and wind power outputs, as well as the demand of the households, have been used to determine the amount of uncertainty and to plan various scenarios. We also used a particle swarm optimization algorithm for the microgrid energy management and compared the optimization results obtained from the two algorithms. The simulation results show that uncertainty in the microgrid normally has a significant effect on the outcomes, and failure to consider it would lead to inaccurate management methods. Moreover, the results confirm the excellent performance of the proposed approach.