Microgrid Design and Control of a Hybrid Building Complex

Microgrids are a promising alternative to the traditional distribution systems due to their highly desirable features, such as, reliability, resiliency, and efficiency. This paper covers the design, simulation, and economic analysis of a theoretically designed modern, mixed-use commercial and residential building on a feeder in Charleston, SC, USA. The designed system is simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC. The system combines a natural gas CHP turbine and generator block set, solar photovoltaics (PV), and a battery energy storage system (BESS). It is planned to provide power through a DC lighting bus and an AC to several different commercial load profiles as well as 40 apartments of varying sizes. Additionally, a comprehensive economic analysis is completed with available or estimated pricing to prove the feasibility of such a project.

I. Introduction

Modern day building designers and contractors are evolving the way new communities are designed to maximize land use and profits by combining commercial and residential buildings into one location on a large scale. These all-encompassing units are the perfect place to create a micro-grid for a whole community. The system design for this particular micro-grid includes a baseload combined heat and power (CHP) unit on an alternating current (AC) bus coupled with a photovoltaic array (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) on a direct current (DC) bus that supplies the building's lighting load.