Optimal Operation of a Multi-energy Microgrid with Multiple Demand Response Programs

An optimally coordinated operation strategy for a multi-energy microgrid (MEMG) with the participation of multiple demand response programs (MDRPs) is proposed in this paper. The MEMG is comprised of the combined heat and power (CHP) plant, renewable energy generators (wind turbines and photovoltaic cells), electric boilers as well as heterogeneous energy storage. To verify the effectiveness of the cogeneration of heat and power in MEMG, the coupling property of the electric thermal energy is investigated. Besides, MDRPs are considered to enhance the multi-energy coordination and lower the system operating cost. The proposed operation model is formulated as a mixed integer linear problem (MILP) which can be efficiently worked out by some powerful solvers and the simulations are conducted to illustrate the potential advantages of our proposed method in enhancing economic benefits.