Energy management research using emulators of renewable generation and loads

A laboratory based microgrid test facility is described which uses emulation systems to represent a variety of renewable generation and load types. The emulation systems use real time data from a small housing estate and a 9kW wind turbine to provide a safe, versatile and realistic testbed for the development of energy management techniques for small communities. The paper describes the facility and also two control techniques for energy and power quality management within an energy community.