BIPV Based Community Microgrid Aggregation for Net Zero Energy Building

The pursuit of sustainable energy solutions has propelled the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into building designs. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and Building Attached Photovoltaics (BAPV) represent innovative approaches to harnessing solar energy while enhancing building functionality and aesthetics. This paper examines the contribution of BIPV technologies to energy sustainability by proposing the creation of Building Integrated microgrids (BIMG) using BIPVs. This will enable the BIPVs to efficiently cater to their local building loads, creating net-zero buildings. Each microgrid is managed by a microgrid controller (CM). For better energy management and to reduce the dependence of these microgrids on the utility grids, an aggregation of these microgrids into a community is further proposed. The energy management of the microgrid community is controlled by a community microgrid controller (CMC). The CMC communicates with the BIMG through a low-bandwidth data link. Each microgrid is linked to the community ac mains and the utility grid through an interlink controller. Any microgrid having excess power, possibly due to the shedding of its local load, is shared with the neighborhood microgrid in the community, over the community ac mains, and under the control of the CMC. This leads to the true Net Zero building community. A simulation of the BIMG connected to the Community ac mains is created to share the power during excess power generation. It validates the concept of the community microgrid using the BIMGs.