Designing microgrids for peak shaving and increased resiliency

This paper investigates the feasibility analysis of a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV)/storage system at a facility in South Carolina, USA. We propose adding 177 kW PV and 132 kWh battery storage to reduce the annual utility bill and increase energy resiliency for the facility. To predict the operating status of the system, statistical meteorological data collected from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and load data with 15-minute intervals collected from the utility company are used throughout the investigation. The techno-economic analysis of the microgrid system was created using Hybrid Optimization Models for Energy Resources (HOMER Grid) simulation software. The analysis results show a 23 % reduction in demand charges and 17 % decrease in energy costs with around 48 minutes of autonomy, which increases to 8 hours with a critical load panel.