Optimal energy management techniques for island applications

The global imperative to address climate change and pollution has catalysed the development of innovative and environmentally sustainable energy systems, with polygeneration microgrids emerging as a leading technology due to their high energy conversion efficiencies and low emissions. This thesis focuses on the integration of electrical and thermal technologies in isolated maritime environments, an area of increasing interest in both academia and industry. The primary challenge addressed herein is the development of an energy management system capable of optimizing power flows and storage operations while ensuring robustness. Drawing from practical experience, this thesis aims to advance the current understanding of energy management systems and control for microgrids, particularly in maritime applications such as islands and ships. The central objective is to conceptualize and test an energy management system tailored to these environments, considering operational constraints and optimizing overall system performance. These efforts are supported by simulation tools and cyber-physical tests conducted in the Innovative Energy System laboratory of the Thermochemical Power Group at the University of Genoa. The methodology begins with the introduction of the isolated microgrid layout, incorporating industrial symbiosis principles. Dynamic models of each component are then developed and validated using Matlab-Simulink®. These models serve as the basis for designing and fine-tuning the Energy Management System, which controls each prime mover to fulfil the customer demand meeting operational constraints and minimizing costs. Comparative analyses are conducted between scenarios with and without the EMS, utilizing both simulations and real-world tests over typical operational periods. Additionally, the robustness of the EMS is thoroughly tested and validated, ensuring its efficacy in practical applications. In conclusion, this thesis highlighted the great potential of microgrids with EMS, showing high energy conversion efficiencies in a wide operative range in terms of load and ambient conditions. It also showed that the proper operation of the system is possible during various transient scenarios, implementing proper control strategy in order to face each scenario.