Homeostatic control, smart metering and efficient energy supply and consumption criteria: A means to building more sustainable hybrid micro-generation systems

Unlike what is available in the literature on sustainability, and looking at what is missing in regards to HMS as sustainable energy systems (SES), this paper offers an entirely new and significant perspective in terms of design and operation of such systems. First the concepts of sustainability and SES applied to HMS are explored, finding that the large majority of the mainstream analysis reviewed on the subject is focused on socio-economic, environmental, and regulatory issues rather than on the systemic, technical and operational aspects of such systems, as this paper does, and how HC, energy efficiency (EE), and a novel approach to energy supply and consumption equilibrium based on homeostasis can help build more sustainable HMS. Results are presented which confirm the hypotheses underlying the strategies employed and the model predictability, showing that SES are indeed possible and feasible. Discussion and recommendations are also offered stressing the fact that sustainability is essentially a systemic property and operational in nature, rather than explained by exogenous factors.