What is Microgrid-bench

A microgrid is a small power system connecting devices that consume, generate and store electricity. Usually microgrids are able to operate in islanded mode (off-grid), but they can also be connected to the public grid. We are interested mostly in the latter case, because it offers many more valorization mechanisms.

Operational planning

Operational planning is the process that controls the operation of a microgrid over a relatively long time horizon (from a few hours to several days) divided in periods during which quantities are assumed constant. A period can last from one minute to one hour. Hence, fast dynamics of the system are not considered.

A test-bench to assess operational planning policies

Microgrid-bench is a python tool that aims at simulating the techno-economics of a microgrid, and in particular at quantifying the performance of an operational planning controller as a function of the random processes governing all the variables that impact the microgrid operation (e.g. consumption, renewable generation, market price).

Functionalities

Microgrid-bench offers the following functionalities:

  • To simulate an operational planning policy on real data
  • Forecasters are automatically generated for all variables that have to be predicted
  • New datasets can be easily integrated
  • The microgrid topology can be easily configured
  • Results are stored in the results folder
  • Plots are automatically generated and can be regenerated from a set of existing results

So far, the following devices are available:

  • Non-flexible loads
  • Non-flexible generation
  • Simple battery model: limited capacity, max (dis)charge rates, (dis)charge efficiencies

Regarding the pricing scheme:

  • Variable purchase price
  • Variable sales price
  • Peak pricing: max monthly peak, 12 months rolling horizon.