Optimal energy-emission management in hybrid AC-DC microgrids with vehicle-2-grid technology

This article focuses on the optimal operation management challenges in hybrid AC-DC microgrids considering optimal feeder switching, renewable energy sources, and plug-in electric vehicles. In comparison with the traditional hybrid AC-DC microgrid concept, the reconfigurable hybrid AC-DC microgrids provide more flexibility for better supporting consumers and reducing the operation costs through the remotely controlled switches. In addition, the reconfigurable structure of the hybrid microgrid along with the vehicle-to-grid technology supports the high penetration of plug-in electric vehicles by changing their role from only consuming loads into mobile storages. The proposed problem is prepared as a constrained multi-objective problem optimizing both cost and emission objectives. Due to the high complication and nonlinearity of the problem, an effective optimization algorithm called the theta-crow search algorithm is developed to solve the problem optimally. Also, a stochastic framework based on the point estimate method is used to model the high uncertainties of the problem. The high reliable and satisfying performance of the new method is shown on a test AC-DC microgrid. Published under license by AIP Publishing.