Application of microgrid technology in a university Dormitory

Nowadays microgrids are becoming more and more common. These are small-scale networks that operate independently or in cooperation with other small-scale electricity networks. One of their main features is that they use renewable energy sources and energy storage systems. They are placed with an intelligent controller that monitors weather forecasts and market prices to decide whether to use the locally generated electricity or buy electricity from the network. One of the main application of microgrids is in buildings, so in this study it was investigated how such a system can operate in a dormitory. In such a facility, better energy management can be extremely important as it can save a significant amount of money. In this case, great emphasis should be placed on the battery, as electricity generation and consumption are at different times during a day. To be able to calculate properly, the daily electricity consumption of the building was modelled and used 16 years of solar generation data to be as realistic as possible. Based on the Hungarian pricing system and on the Day Ahead Market (DAM) prices, it was determined how much can be saved per year when simply using solar panels and batteries and how much when taking advantage of the microgrid.