Optimal operation of distributed energy systems - a game theory based approach

Smart operation of building energy systems within neighbourhoods has a tremendous impact on integrating renewable energy, avoiding congestions in the distribution grid, and reducing residents' energy bills. State of the art approaches often focus either on operational optimizations for single buildings or provide solutions to remote control the whole neighbourhood. Distributed coordination relying on game theoretic principles however, allows for an interconnected, autonomous and non-discriminatory operation. Within this study we evolve a game theoretic approach and simulatively apply it to a residential neighbourhood. We compare the consequential building energy system operation to both central and a fully decentral operation optimization. Our results show that the game theoretic approach offers advantages only in terms of grid supportiveness. With regard to costs and emissions, the compared approaches are preferable.