Demand Smoothing in Multi-Energy Systems Using Model Predictive Control

In this paper a novel generalised modelling framework for multi-energy systems containing storage elements is combined with a multi-objective model predictive control. The control objective is to both minimise the economic cost of importing energy into the system as well as providing the service of smoothing the profile of the electrical energy imported thus levelling the load and reducing peak demand. The capabilities of the approach are demonstrated by its application to a representative case study based on two buildings at the University of Manchester. Results show that model predictive control is capable of simultaneously addressing minimisation of economic cost as well as smoothing the electrical energy import.