Conceptual model framework for demand response ancillary services deployed by inter-connected microgrids in West Africa - A Nigerian case study

摘要

As a result of the poor electrification rate in many Sub-Saharan countries, several researches have been geared towards the adoption of distributed generation resources (in micro-grids) as a means to ameliorate this menace. For substantial ancillary services rendered, multiple micro-grid operators need to participate in the capacity and energy market. A conceptual framework model is presented in this paper where four distinct microgrids within rural communities are inter-linked and provide ancillary services to one another in the case of a capacity outage in any one of the other microgrids. The Microgrid Ancillary Service Operator (MASO) is in charge of managing the ancillary service which will accept bids from demand response aggregators, and then perform an optimal power flow to allocate capacities (energy resources) to meet demands in a day-ahead or hour-ahead time frame. The techno-economic analysis and distribution network design for one of the micro-grids considered was performed for a typical rural community in a Nigeria which had a residential and commercial load of 551 kWh/day and 23 kW h/day respectively. Results from HOMER showed an optimal system combination of 350 kW solar PV, 150 kW diesel generator, 300 units of Surrette 4KS25 P battery (having a usable nominal capacity of 1368 kW h), and a 100-kW converter. Also, using voltage drop constraints, the analytical design for a 3-bus ring distribution network which comprised a main feeder, and two load buses produced appropriate wiring sizes alongside commensurate resistance and reactance parameters which were within the permissible voltage limits set.