Smart energy management systems for reliable solar microgrids

Abstract

This research study addresses a significant limitation of conventional solar photovoltaic microgrids, that is, their inability to provide power during grid outages. Therefore, a smart energy management system is proposed to effectively control load demand and power supply, thereby reducing power losses and enabling power supply during grid outages. The system encompasses two crucial stages. First, a Multi-Layer perceptron network is employed for accurate power production forecasting, followed by the utilization of a smart load demand management controller system, optimized using the Grey Wolf optimizer, to efficiently regulate load consumption. An experimental microgrid setup is established to assess the performance of the proposed system under real outdoor conditions. The experimental results on a typical sunny day indicate impressive system performance for supplying 100% of the load during the power cut off hours. This study contributes to the advancement of smart energy management solutions for conventional microgrid applications, aligning with sustainable development goals.