Design of a Multicasting Based Communication Architecture for Local Microgrid EMS using OPC UA

Energy Management Systems (EMS) in microgrids play a crucial role in optimizing energy efficiency and ensuring stable operation. Traditional EMSs rely on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for data collection and control execution. However, this approach introduces communication delays that can degrade real-time control performance. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel communication architecture for microgrid EMS based multicasting by Binary Protocol and Unified Architecture Datagram Protocol (UADP) using OPC UA. The proposed system eliminates the reliance on SCADA by establishing direct communication between the EMS and field devices, such as batteries, DC/DC converters, and AC/DC converters, through OPC UA information modeling. Furthermore, UADP-based multicasting enables efficient and simultaneous data transmission, reducing latency and enhancing real-time control capabilities. In this study, we present the conceptual design of this architecture, outlining the transition from SCADA-based to OPC UA-based EMS communication. Future research will focus on validating the proposed system’s effectiveness through experimental microgrid operation based on the mathematical models introduced in this paper.