Optimal Scheduling of Smart Homes Energy Consumption with Microgrid

Abstract

Microgrid is taken as the future Smart Grid, and can work as a local energy provider to domestic buildings and reduce energy expenses. To further lower the cost, a Smart Homes idea is suggested. Smart Homes of the future will include automation systems and could provide lower energy consumption costs and comfortable and secure living environment to end users. If the energy consumption tasks across multiple homes can be scheduled based on the users' requirement, the energy cost and peak demand could be reduced. In this paper the optimal scheduling of smart homes' energy consumption is presented using mixed-integer linear programming. In order to minimize a one-day forecasted energy consumption cost, operation and electricity consumption tasks are scheduled based on different electricity tariffs, electricity task time window and forecasted renewable energy output. A case study of thirty homes with their own microgrid indicates the possibility of cost saving and asset utilization increase.