Optimal Energy Management of an Academic Building with Distributed Generation and Energy Storage Systems

In this paper, an optimisation algorithm is used to simulate the management of distributed energy resources in an academic building. This optimisation algorithm, called DEROP, consists of an iterative procedure reach a supply schedule with the minimum energy cost. The inputs to the algorithm are the demand forecast, the availability of each resource, the level of storage in energy storage systems and prices and efficiencies of each resource. With these data, the algorithm proposes the optimal schedule to minimise costs of energy supply. The main advantages of this algorithm are that it is fast, easy to be implemented in real buildings and flexible. The algorithm is simulated with real data to optimise management of distributed energy resources and energy storage systems in an academic building. The management of these resources is optimised for a tariff with hourly discrimination and for a tariff with no time restrictions. One of the main conclusions drawn from these simulations are that significant savings are obtained with this algorithm. Also, DEROP allows taking advantage of tariffs with hourly discrimination, even in an academic building with low night-time consumption in which, a priori, these tariffs are not profitable.