Micro-grid Design and Cost Optimization using Modelica

This paper describes the modeling of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Micro-Grid Testing and Training Facility, which will be used to advance energy generation and storage technologies and optimize integrated system operations for a variety of micro-grid applications. First, integrated system models were assembled using the Microgrid Modelica library, developed by Modelon. Next, three use cases were defined based on a scaled down version of the Whale Cove, Nunavut micro-grid operating in: ‘island mode’ without renewables (present mode), island mode with renewables, and grid-connected mode. Various simulations, as well as design and economic optimizations were then performed. Through these analyses, it was shown that each parameter domain could be successfully assessed using this modeling framework, demonstrating the flexibility of both the modeling platform and the potential of the physical test facility to support in-depth analysis for different microgrid configurations, technologies, and applications.