Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Integration in Industrial Plants through DC Microgrids: A Case Study for an Ethylene Plant

As industrial plants seek to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in line with climate change mitigation strategies, the implementation of DC microgrids presents a promising solution. This study investigates the potential of DC microgrids to enhance energy efficiency and facilitate the integration of renewable energy resources, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, in industrial settings. The research focuses on the advantages of DC microgrids over traditional AC systems, specifically in reducing the number of conversion stages required for system design. A case study of an ethylene plant is presented to illustrate the benefits of implementing a DC microgrid in an industrial environment. The study employs ETAP and PVsyst software for analysis and simulations. Results demonstrate that the adoption of a DC microgrid leads to a significant reduction in conversion losses, resulting in enhancing the overall system efficiency by 9.5%. Furthermore, The DC microgrid enhanced the benefits of integrating the same PV capacity, reducing grid energy consumption and carbon emissions by 20.5% compared to the AC microgrid. The findings have important implications for industrial energy management and sustainable manufacturing practices in the context of global efforts to combat climate change.