Grid-tied distributed generation with energy storage to advance renewables in the residential sector: tariff analysis with energy sharing innovations; Part I

Abstract This paper analyzes a case study on electrical power control and energy management of a 60 apartments’ residential building with solar generation and energy storage in Santiago, Chile. This constitutes both, a challenge and an opportunity, which have not yet been fully addressed by the Chilean regulatory framework, under the perspective of renewable energy sources’ integration with the local electric utility, ENEL. Under this scenario, a set of strategies for the coordination and control of the electricity supply versus demand is tested and adapted for the specific needs of the customers and the infrastructure of the network. The microgrid operates in full coordination with the grid to maximize green energy supply vs demand and systems capacity, whereby the different energy consumers and their consumption profiles play a crucial role as “active loads”, as they are able to respond and adapt to the needs of the grid-tie microgrid while enjoying economic benefits. Simulations results are presented under different tariff options, systems capacity and energy storage alternatives, so as to compare the proposed strategies with the actual case. Results show the advantage of the proposed electric tariffs and energy management strategies for the integration of distributed generation systems in the context of the smart grid transformation by ENEL in Chile.