Optimal day-ahead scheduling strategy of microgrid considering regional pollution and potential load curtailment

With the frequent occurrence of global warming and extreme severe weather, the transition of energy to cleaner, and with lower carbon has gradually become a consensus. Microgrids can integrate multiple energy sources and consume renewable energy locally. The amount of pollutants emitted during the operation of the microgrids become an important issue to be considered. This study proposes an optimal day-ahead scheduling strategy of microgrid considering regional pollution and potential load curtailment. First, considering the operating characteristics of microgrids in islanded and grid- connected operation modes, this study proposes a regional pollution index (RPI) to quantify the impact of pollutants emitted from microgrid on the environment, and further proposes a penalty mechanism based on the RPI to reduce the microgrid’s utilization on non-clean power supplies. Second, considering the benefits of microgrid as the operating entity, utilizing a direct load control (DLC) enables microgrid to enhance power transfer capabilities to the grid under the penalty mechanism based on RPI. Finally, an optimal day-ahead scheduling strategy which considers both the load curtailment potential of curtailable loads and RPI is proposed, and the results show that the proposed optimal day-ahead scheduling strategy can effectively inspire the curtailment potential of curtailable loads in the microgrid, reducing pollutant emissions from the microgrid.