Impact of demand response and pumped storage on microgrid operation

Microgrids have emerged as a new solution to the increased energy demand and efficient integration of intermittent renewable energy resources. With technology intervention, it is possible to have demand side participation in energy market, thereby minimizing the cost of operation. In this paper, the energy scheduling has been carried out on a low distribution microgrid comprised of various distribution generation including solar, wind, diesel generators, pumped storage hydro unit and various types of consumer. The scheduling problem has been formulated considering the operational characteristics of distribution generations and managing the demand response of residential and commercial consumers. It uses the contribution of pumped storage unit and demand response in handling the uncertainty. The proposed problem is worked out with mixed integer non linear programming solver in GAMS. The analysis shows that contribution of consumers to energy scheduling reduce the total operational cost of microgrid as well as the burden on grid by using renewable energy resources effectively.