Date of Award:

12-2023

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Hongjie Wang

Committee

Hongjie Wang

Committee

Regan Zane

Committee

Jacob Gunther

Abstract

As countries develop and technology improves, the world is using more energy than ever before. This fact along with several other political, social, and economic factors has resulted in simultaneous energy and climate crises. A partial solution to both problems is bringing clean energy sources of electricity closer to the customers who use that energy. A microgrid is a smaller version of the national electric grid where smaller electricity generators are networked with local consumers and controlled independently of the main grid. Because control of electricity sources and loads are transferred to local controllers, the flexibility with which they can be controlled increases. The research presented in this thesis optimizes microgrid control strategies that minimize operational costs and can result in microgrids becoming more affordable and more widespread. The research aims to be as versatile as possible by simulating microgrids connected to utilities with a variety of different rate schedules and pricing structures. The outcome of the research shows that using optimized control strategies lowers the operational costs of microgrids in each of the cases tested. The magnitude of savings depends largely on the type and amount of electricity sources that comprise the microgrid, the location of the microgrid, and the policies of local utilities.

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