2019 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Asia
Coordinated Optimal Planning of Generation and
Storage in Hybrid AC/DC Micro-grid
Liang Ge, Chaoran Fu, Mingming Wu, Yutong Wang
State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company
Pudong Supply Company
Shanghai, China
Abstract—The hybrid AC/DC micro-grid that integrates AC and
DC micro-grid, including a variety of distributed generation,
energy storage devices, load, lead the trend of micro-grid. To
improve the operation economic efficiency and acceptance of
renewable energy source of the hybrid AC/DC micro-grid, it is
necessary to configure battery energy storage system for
distributed generation. In this paper, a mix integer optimization
model of generation and storage is proposed for the hybrid
AC/DC micro-grid to determine the optimal configuration of
generation and storage. Taking the minimum cost of generation
and storage investment as well as the minimum operation cost of
power generation and purchase and sale of electricity, the
dynamic characteristics of generators and storage devices are
taken into consideration, and the power loss through AC/DC
converter is taken into account. The model is solved as a mixed
integer optimization based on Benders Decomposition algorithm.
The numerical study shows that the optimal configuration of
coordinated generation and storage can effectively save the
investment cost of AC/DC hybrid micro-grid, which verifies the
validity of the proposed model.
Index Terms-- Hybrid AC/DC micro-grid; Energy storage
system; Distributed generation; Mix integer optimization
I. INTRODUCTION
The microgrid integrating renewable energy sources such
as wind power, photovoltaic and biomass energy and fossil
fuels such as oil and natural gas, as well as energy storage
systems (EES) such as batteries and super capacitors, owns the
characteristics of multi-source energy supply and multi-mode
coordinated operation[1,2], which can be used to exploit the
advantages of distributed power supply technology to the full,
and improve the proportion of renewable energy acceptance in
the power system effectively. As a result, the problems of
environmental pollution and energy shortage caused by the
depletion of fossil fuels can be alleviated [3-6].
Microgrid networking includes AC microgrid, DC
microgrid and AC/DC hybrid microgrid [7]. The AC/DC hybrid
microgrid has both the characteristics and advantages of
AC/DC microgrid, which can not only reduce the power loss
and harmonic current produced by multiple AC/DC or DC/AC
conversions, but also provide a variety of access options for
Liang Ge, Chaoran Fu, Mingming Wu, Yutong Wang are with State
Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company Pudong Supply Company,
Shanghai 200120, China (e-mail: fuchaoran617@163.com). Linkun Man is
with State Grid Liaoning Economic Research Institute.
978-1-7281-3520-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
Linkun Man
State Grid Liaoning Economic Research Institute
Shenyang, China
various types of renewable energy and electrical equipment.
Its main features are as follows: (1) The AC/DC hybrid
microgrid includes the AC subsystem, the DC subsystem and
the bi-directional AC/DC converter between the AC and DC
subsystems, the power of the AC and DC subsystems can be
bidirectional flow; (2) the AC and DC power grid can supply
the AC load and the direct current load directly, and reduce
the intermediate link of the power conversion; (3) Compared
to pure AC microgrid or DC microgrid, AC/DC hybrid
microgrid can better accept different types of distributed
power and energy storage units, and improve the power
quality and economy of the system.
In order to make full use of the distributed power supply
with intermittent output characteristics, while ensuring the
stability of the power grid and the reliability of the user's
power consumption, it is necessary to properly configure the
energy storage system in the microgrid [8-9]. At the same time,
the growth of user load in microgrids has prompted the
continuous increase of new distributed power supply in the
microgrid to meet the electricity demand. In literature [10],
from the perspective of energy management strategy, the
distributed power supply in AC/DC hybrid microgrid is
optimally configured to reduce the operating cost of the
system. However, only the independent operation mode of the
microgrid is considered. Literature [11] proposes a multi-
objective optimization configuration method for the grid
connected AC/DC hybrid microgrid. The second generation of
non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm is used to obtain the
optimal allocation of AC/DC hybrid microgrid at different DC
load levels. Literature [12] optimizes the energy storage
capacity of the battery and super capacitor hybrid energy
storage system in the grid-connected microgrid with the
minimum economic cost and maximum tie-line utilization.
Literature [13] proposes a location and capacity method for
distributed power supply in grid connected AC/DC hybrid
microgrids.
However, separately configuring the power supply and the
energy storage system cannot consider the time series dynamic
characteristics of the power supply and the energy storage
system together, and thus cannot achieve the optimal
configuration of the power supply and the energy storage
system. On the other hand, after the AC microgrid is mixed
with the DC microgrid, they can be used as backups and
support each other. At the same time, it is necessary to
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consider the transmission power limit and power loss of the Define The investment cost of microgrid source storage
AC and DC link. For this reason, this paper proposes a includes power investment cost and energy storage
coordinated optimization configuration model of source and investment cost, which can be expressed as:
storage in AC/DC hybrid microgrids to realize a more min Cg x  Cs y
economical source storage configuration scheme. (1)
Where x is an integer, which represents the quantity of
II. AC/DC HYBRID MICROGRID STRUCTURE C
g
As shown in Figure 1, AC/DC hybrid microgrid consists conventional power supply construction, and is the
of AC subsystem and DC subsystem, including bi-directional construction cost of power supply per unit; y is an integer,
AC/DC converter, centralized controller, grid-connected which represents the quantity of energy storage battery
interface unit, conventional power supply, wind power, C
construction, and s is the construction cost of energy
photovoltaic and other renewable power supplies, energy
storage battery per unit.
storage unit and AC/DC load.
 Minimum Operating Cost
The operation cost of microgrid, including the cost of both
electricity generation and purchase / sale of electricity, can be
expressed as:
min  f ( pg (t ))   g ( pres (t ))   cm (t ) pm (t )
t t t (2)
pg (t )
Where is the normal power output at time t, and
f ( pg )
is the conventional power generation cost function,
which is usually a quadratic function that can be transformed
Figure.1 AC/DC hybrid microgrid structure diagram pres (t ) is the renewable
into a piecewise linear function.
p energy output at time t, and
g ( pres ) is a function of
Micro-grid and large-grid power transmission m ( t ) and
p
AC/DC subsystem power transmission l (t ) direction is renewable energy generation cost. m
p (t ) is the power
defined as follows： exchange between the large grid and the microgrid at time t,

and m
c (t )
is the price of electricity purchased/sold by the
 pm(t )  0, Power transmission from large-
grid to micro-grid at time t microgrid to the large grid at time t.

 pm(t )  0,
Power transmission from micro-grid B. Time Series Dynamic Characteristics of Energy Storage
to large-grid at time t In this paper, the two variables of charging power and
discharge power are used to describe the energy storage and
 pl (t )  0,
Power transmission from AC subsystem discharge process. Because of the loss in the charging and
to DC subsystem at time t
 discharging process, the optimization model can ensure that
 pl (t )  0,
Power transmission from DC subsystem the charging and discharging of the energy storage battery
to AC subsystem at time t will not occur at the same time. The charging and discharging
process of the energy storage battery is shown in Figure 2.
III. SOURCE-STORAGE COORDINATIVE
OPTIMIZATION CONFIGURATION MODEL
In the AC/DC hybrid microgrid, the AC subsystem is
connected to the large grid through the grid-connected
interface unit, and the AC/DC subsystem is interconnected
with the bidirectional AC/DC converter through the AC/DC
link. In the case of the power of AC/DC tie-line, considering
the following factors like dynamic timing characteristics of
Figure 2 the charging and discharging process of energy storage battery
energy storage battery, dynamic timing characteristics of
Considering the charging and discharging efficiency of the
conventional power supply, dynamic timing characteristics of
load, the power balance of AC subsystem in microgrid, the energy storage battery, the charging and discharging process
power balance of DC subsystem and power constraint of can be expressed as:
AC/DC tie-line, the following source-storage collaborative s(t  1)  s(t )  pch (t )  t  ch  pdch (t )  t / dch (3)
optimization configuration model is constructed. Where: s(t) and s(t+1) are the state of charge of the energy
A. Objective Function storage battery at time t and time t+1, respectively.
pch (t )
 Minimum Investment Cost

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 pdch (t ) are the charging power and discharge power of subsystem to the DC subsystem. Figure 4 shows the power
and transfer of the AC and DC subsystem.

the energy storage battery at time t, ch and dch are the

charging efficiency and discharge efficiency of the energy
storage battery, respectively. t is the unit time interval and is Figure 4 Schematic diagram of AC and DC subsystem power transmission
Considering the power transmission efficiency(  ) of tie-
usually set to 1 hour.
The energy storage battery should not exceed its maximum
lines between AC and DC, the power transmission on the AC
charge and discharge power during the corresponding process.
side and the power transmission on the DC side can be
pch (t )  pch,max expressed as:
(4)
pdch (t )  pdch,max  pac  pl
(5) 
In order to avoid damaging the energy storage battery, the  pdc   ( pl ) pl  (1   ( pl )) pl (10)
charging state must be kept in the upper and lower limits: Where:  ( ) is a step function, the function value is 1 when
y  Smin  s(t )  y  Smax (6) the input variable is greater than or equal to 0, and the
function value is 0 when the input variable is less than 0.
Where: y is the energy storage investment decision. Smax For the AC subsystem, the power balance equation is:
and Smin are the upper and lower limits of the storage pg (t )  pres (t )  pdch (t )  pm (t )  pch (t )  pd (t )  pac (t )
(11)
capacity of the energy storage battery, respectively. For the DC subsystem, the power balance equation is:
pg (t )  pres (t )  pdch (t )  pdc (t )  pch (t )  pd (t )
(12)
pg (t )
Where: is the normal power output at time t,
Figure.3 Energy storage battery period
pres (t ) is the renewable energy output at time t, pch (t ) and
After a complete period of time (such as one day), the state pdch (t ) are the charging power and discharge power of the
of charge of the energy storage battery should return to the
initial value, as shown in Figure 3.
energy storage battery at time t, respectively. m is the
p (t )
s((n  1)T )  s(nT ) (7) power flow from the large grid to the AC subsystem at time t,
Where: T represents a complete period, n is a natural p (t )
number. and d is the load at time t.
C. Time Series Dynamic Characteristics of Power Supply E. Power Constraint of Tie-line
For a conventional power supply, the upper and lower The power transmitted by the large power grid to the
limits of the output are: microgrid should meet the upper and lower limits.
x  pmin  pg (t )  x  pmax pm (t )  pm,max
(8) (13)
Where: x is the conventional power investment decision, p (t ) is the power transmitted from the large
Where: m
pmax and pmin are the upper and lower limits of the normal
pm,max
power output. power grid to the microgrid at t time, and is the upper
In order to adapt to the intermittent output of renewable limit of transmission power.
energy and meet the load peak and valley requirements, the The transmission power of AC and DC tie-lines should
climbing rate needs to meet a certain range. conform to the upper and lower constraints.
pdowm  pg (t  1)  pg (t )  pup pl (t )  pl ,max
(9) (14)
pg (t ) pg (t  1) p (t ) is the AC and DC tie-line power at time t,
Where: and are the state of charge of the Where: l
pup pl ,max
energy storage battery at time t and t +1 respectively. and is the tie-line power limit.
p
and dowm are the upper and lower limits of the climbing rate,
respectively. IV. SOLVING ALGORITHM
D. Power Balance Constraints Equations (1) to (14) can come down to a Mixed Integer
Linear Programming (MILP) problem, and the matrix form is
p
Define l as the AC/DC tie-line power (based on the AC as shown in equations (13) to (15).
side), with the positive direction flowing from the AC min(CTg x  CTs y  bT z )
(15)

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 Ax  By  Cz  d (16)
 If UB  LB   , the algorithm terminates, otherwise
continue to the next step.
Gx  Hy  Mz  h (17)  Add the following constraints to the slack problem of
Where: z is a column vector consisting of all operating the main problem and return to step 2).
pg (t )
variables, including conventional power output , η  (d  Ax  By )T π*k  (h  Gx  Hy )T λ *k (23)
energy storage battery state s(t ) , charging power pch (t ) ,  Equation (23) is the optimal cut of the Benders
p (t ) , large grid Injection power pm (t ) , decomposition algorithm. In the practical calculation,
discharge power dch a penalty is added to the lower level problem, so that
and AC/DC tie-line power l
p (t ) . the optimal solution can be guaranteed, as a result the
feasible cut can be omitted [15].
Among those expressions, the objective function formula
(15) is composed of the formulas (1) and (2), and the formula V. EXAMPLE ANALYSIS
(16) represents the inequality constraints (4)-(6), (8)-(9), (13)-
(14), Equation (15) represents equation constraints (3), (7), A. Example System
(11), and (12). In order to improve the speed of MILP In the AC/DC hybrid microgrid structure shown in Figure
solution, the Benders decomposition [14] algorithm can usually 1, each power supply and energy storage is connected to the
be used to solve the layered iterative solution. In this paper, corresponding busbar according to its output force, and
based on the Benders decomposition algorithm, the above supplies power to the AC and DC load. The micro gas turbine
MILP is solved, and the faster solution speed is obtained is used as a conventional power source to access the AC
under the condition of guaranteeing the global optimal subsystem, the fan is connected to the AC subsystem, and the
solution. photovoltaic and energy storage batteries are connected to the
Based on the Benders decomposition algorithm, we can DC subsystem. The AC and DC loads are respectively
divide the integer problem into the upper level problem, and connected to the AC and DC subsystems. The unit time
the continuous variable problem is divided into the lower period is t for 1 hour and the battery operation period is 1
level problem. The upper level problem is: day. Table 1 gives the parameters of the system, and Table 2
min(cTg x  cTs y  η) shows the time-of-use tariffs for the transactions between the
(18) large grid and the microgrid.
η  (d  Ax  By)T π*  (h  Gx  Hy)T λ* , l  k (19)
Based on the dual theory, the lower level problem can be Parameter Value Parameter value
expressed as: name name
pm,max 50 kW Smin 50 kWh
max(d  Ax*  By* )T π  (h  Gx*  Hy* )T λ (20)
pl ,max 40 kW Smax 10 kWh
CT π  MT λ  b (21)
π0  0.95 pch,max 20%Smax / h
(22)
Where:
η is the upper problem slack variable, λ and π pmax 60 kW pdch,max 20%Smax / h
are the dual variables corresponding to constraints (16) and
(17), respectively. pmin 12 kW  ch 0.9
The solution steps are as follows: pup 10 kW dch 0.9

pdown 3 kW cg ￥3100/kW
 Let the number of iterations k  0, the upper boundary
UB   , the lower boundary LB   . s(nT ) 30 kWh cs ￥1300/kW
 k=k+1, solve the upper problem (18)-(19), and get the Table 1 system parameters
x y η
optimal solution of the upper problem k , k , k ,
purchase selling
η
and let LB  k .
Time period
price price
/(yuan/kW
/(yuan/kW
 Substituting the optimal solution of the upper level h)
h)
x y
problem k and k into the lower level problems peak 10:00-14:00 ， 18:00- 0.83 0.65
(20)-(22) and solving them with the assumed optimal 21:00
valley 00:00-7:00 ， 23:00- 0.17 0.14
solution
πk , λ k , then 24:00
UB  min UB, (d  Ax*k  By*k ) π*k  (h  Gx*k  Hy*k )T λ *k 
T
average The rest 0.49 0.38
(22)
Table 2 Grid time-of-use electricity tariff

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 This paper selects four typical day scenes to consider the
random characteristics of wind power, photovoltaic, AC and
DC loads. The wind power sunrise curve, the photovoltaic
sunrise force curve, and the AC/DC daily load curve are
shown in Figure 5.
(a) Wind power output diurnal curve
cost is 1.029 million yuan and 1.371 million yuan, when only
the power supply investment or the energy storage investment
is considered. When the power supply and energy storage are
coordinated, the investment cost is 0.697 million yuan and the
operation cost is 0.938 million yuan. Obviously, among the 3
schemes, the investment cost of scheme 2 is the lowest, but
the total cost of the scheme 2 is 1.956 million yuan after the
operation cost is added, which is the worst economic scheme.
This shows that only considering energy storage construction
can effectively accept renewable energy and meet the
requirement of load peak valley, but it is overly dependent on
purchasing electricity from the large power grid, which
makes the operation cost too high. Comparing scheme 3 and
scheme 1, the investment cost of the scheme 3 is 0.047
million yuan less than that of the scheme 1, and the operating
cost is 0.091 million yuan less than that of the scheme 1.
Therefore, the source storage cooperative configuration can
effectively save the cost of the investment and construction of
the power supply, and improve the operation economy of the
AC/DC hybrid microgrid.

VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a coordinated optimization configuration
model of source and storage in AC/DC hybrid microgrids
established by considering the dynamic characteristics of the
power storage and the power transmission limit and loss of
(b) Photovoltaic output diurnal curve
AC / DC tie line, and the optimal solution can be obtained by
the mathematical optimization algorithm which is guaranteed
to get the global optimal solution. The validity of the
proposed model is verified by the analysis of the results of the
example. The shortcoming of this paper is that it fails to take
into account the fact that the capacity of the energy storage
battery decreases as the number of charge and discharge
cycles increases. In addition, the AC/DC hybrid microgrid is
only connected to two microgrids. The next research direction
can focus on the multi-AC/DC microgrid hybrid, and take
into account the attenuation characteristics of the energy
(c) AC and DC diurnal load curve storage system.
Fig.5 Renewable energy output and load curve
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
B. Example Result The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of
State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company
Table 3 shows the optimal configuration results of the Pudong Supply Company and State Grid Liaoning Economic
AC/DC hybrid microgrid under the three-category scheme. Research Institute.
The schemes 1 and 2 are separately configured for the power
supply and the storage, and the scheme 3 is the coordinated
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