Energy Demand Optimization in a Seawater Pumping Plant by Energy Hybridization with Solar Energy and Batteries

This paper presents a study on the implementation of demand-side management (DSM) using model predictive control (MPC) for a seawater pumping plant in the Chilean mining industry. The study focuses on reducing energy costs, leveraging solar energy and energy storage, improving sustainability, and ensuring reliable operation. The pumping system is described, including its electrical tariff and solar resources. The demand optimization is formulated as a discrete-time model with an objective function for both real-time pricing (RTP) and maximum-demand (MD) tariffs. Results show the effectiveness of the approach in meeting the water demand of the pumping plant while reducing energy costs.