Optimal siting and sizing of distributed energy resources in a Smart Campus

• Published in: Electric power systems research 2023-04, Vol.217, p.109095, Article 109095
• Main Authors: Henrique, Letícia F., Silva, Walquiria N., Silva, Caio C.A., Dias, Bruno H., Oliveira, Leonardo W., Almeida, Madson C. de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charging stations; Distributed energy resources; Electric vehicles; Photovoltaic generation; Smart campus; Sustainable campus
• ISSN: 0378-7796; 1873-2046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2022.109095

The advent of distributed energy resources (DERs) in microgrids has provided significant benefits. University campus microgrids can manage their DER efficiently to minimize consumption, energy losses, and environmental impacts. Thus, to boost the transition from a traditional university campus to a sustainable and smart campus, this paper proposes an optimal siting and sizing study of photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle charging stations for a microgrid of a Brazilian university. This problem is formulated as mixed-integer nonlinear programming and is carried out in two stages. The first stage minimizes grid losses by locating and sizing photovoltaic panels, while the second stage minimizes the grid losses and maximizes the proximity of charging stations to the load centers by optimizing the place and sizing of charging stations. In addition, this work considers load uncertainty through the Monte Carlo method with a scenario reduction technique. The results estimate that photovoltaic systems can reduce 13.48% of the monthly electricity cost. The optimal charging station location is usually nearby the photovoltaic system siting or the substation. However, the increase in the number of chargers in buses with high consumption causes an increase of around 5% in grid losses. Furthermore, this paper discusses possible scenarios for photovoltaic systems and charging station installation based on the benefits of the transition to a sustainable and smart campus, considering Brazilian electricity sector policies. •Perform a scenario reduction to deal with load and generation curves uncertainties.•Minimize electrical losses by optimizing the siting and sizing photovoltaic systems.•Perform multi-objective optimization for siting and sizing charging stations.•Sensitivity analysis for distributed energy resource installation.•Discuss the advent of distributed energy resources to university campus.