Analysis of decentralized energy systems by mathematical programming techniques

We study a decentralized energy network composed of PV units, wind power generator, rechargeable batteries, electrical appliances, and an electric power router. The router manages the power transfer over the network. The decentralized energy network is a new grid systems toward independence from existing power grid, and the renewable energy is main energy source for the decentralized energy network. To investigate the possibility of this network, we conducted a demonstration experiment using DC energy grid in an isolated island in Japan. “Nushima project” attempts to construct a prototype of a self-sustainable decentralized energy system based on DC power distribution of the renewable energy in Nushima island. Under the Nushima project, a mathematical programming model is formulated for optimizing the design and the utilization of this overall energy network in order to evaluate efficiency and stability of the whole energy network. In this approach, we investigate an optimal power transfer for the most efficient power utilization based on a liner programing model. Through some numerical simulation results, the effectiveness and the potential, e.g. for clarifying the effect of the batteries, of the proposed model are investigated.