Renewable energy integration for smart sites

Abstract

Use of distributed renewable energy sources for domestic energy consumption will increase in the near future, due to its advantages as being clean and infinite energy generation possibility. This trend allows more efficient energy consumption because of reducing transmission loses and dependence of domestic appliances to grid distribution. This study investigates potentials of a smart site concept based on domestic renewable energy generation. The study addresses site scale integration of hybrid renewable sources and grid energies as well as investigates possible advantages of the use of hybrid renewable energy systems based on solar and wind power. A continuous energy mixing strategy is used for DC integration of hybrid renewable energy (wind + solar) and the grid energy to meet site power demand. The proposed case study demonstrates that the smart site with hybrid renewable sources considerably reduces energy dependence of the house appliances to the grid which in turn presents a feasible solution for implementation of distributed generation provision for future smart grids. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.