Optimal operation of microgrid using four different optimization techniques

In this paper, an economic dispatch (ED) problem of a microgrid (MG) is formulated and solved using four different optimization techniques - lambda iteration, lambda logic, direct search method (DSM), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The objective is to minimize the fuel cost of the dispatchable DGs present in the microgrid. Variation in load demands, variation in the output powers of non-dispatchable DGs, and requirements of stable grid connected and islanded operations impose additional operational constraints in a microgrid. In this paper, all these constraints have been considered while formulating the ED problem. The effects of these constraints on the daily fuel cost of dispatchable DGs are then inspected on two test systems. The first test system is a synthesized three control - area MG system. Each control area in the test MG system comprises dispatchable DGs, loads, and non-dispatchable (wind and solar power based) DGs. The second test system is a two control area thirty-three node microgrid comprising dispatchable and non-dispatchable DGs and loads.