Optimal energy management in a smart building with storage

Electricity generation happens on a real-time basis therefore utilities and operators have to follow the demand, matching any variation in the customers’ needs and ensuring system stability at the same time. To achieve this balance between generation and demand during periods of high load peaks, it is necessary either to increase generation capacity or induce a decrease in the consumption profile. While the first option might require high investments and idle resources during off-peak hours, the second option empowers customers to participate in a more active way in the operation of the power network. The objective of this project is to design an optimal mechanism to encourage the users to shift their use of energy from peak to off-peak times. Up to a certain point this shifting can be done using a battery or other energy storage device. Additional shifting requires changes in the consumer behaviour; such changes can be induced via dynamic pricing policies. Bilevel optimization allows to determine the optimal prices by explicitly taking into account the decision-making process of the consumers. As a by-product, the bilevel optimization model can also provide information about the economic value of storage.

Faculty Supervisor:

Miguel Anjos

Student:

Partner:

Université Lille Nord de France

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

University:

École Polytechnique de Montréal

Program:

Globalink Research Award