Economic generation scheduling in microgrid with pumped-hydro unit using Particle Swarm Optimization

Microgrids are now gaining more and more importance in the development and operation of power system. The optimal operating strategy of a microgrid having conventional as well as renewables with storage facilities has been investigated in this paper. Here the proposition of economic dispatch is investigated with the introduction of pumped-hydro storage unit. The cost optimization process involving the pumped-hydro storage units has been done with Particle Swarm Optimization. The cost function of the microgrid has been constructed for the whole day. The paper introduces a novel algorithm which optimizes the cost function with proper power balance involving solar, wind, pumped-hydro storage and conventional generators for the load curve taken for a day. The results obtained are found to be giving lesser cost of generation than those obtained without pumped-hydro storage units for microgrid operations. The outcomes are assessed and analyzed with justifications.