Simulative study of a smart node for domestic applications, equipped with pv panel, energy storage and home automation

The increase of renewable energy exploitation is a current topic in the energetic field. One of the main obstacles to the use of renewable energy in the global energetic mix is represented by the fluctuating nature of renewable power sources, since power fluctuations are cause of stress for the electric grid. A possibility to widely exploit renewable sources is the implementation of a "smart grid", consisting in an interconnection of several smart-nodes. To reduce the stochastic effect of the renewable energy source it is possible to equip the nodes an energy storage managed in order to smooth the power peaks. In this regard, a dynamic analysis was carried out in order to integrate the renewable sources with the electric grid. This work presents a simulation model of a smart node consisting in a user power profile, a photovoltaic panel and a battery. Tests were worked out in different node configurations, in order to evaluate the incidence on the energy flows and on the grid distortion factor. Simulations were repeated by implementing the system with an algorithm for home automation in order to exploit intelligently the energy from the renewable source. This algorithm allows to synchronize the operation of certain loads to the sun irradiation power.