Model Predictive Control for Enhanced Output Power Smoothing and Extended Component Lifespan in Solar-Microgrids with Hydrogen Storage System

The incorporation of renewable energy sources (RESs) into microgrids leads to the adaptation of energy storage systems and the development of management strategies in order to reduce the impact of their intermittency. This paper provides a novel output power smoothing policy incorporated in a control strategy to regulate a microgrid composed of RESs and a hydrogen-energy storage system (HESS). The strategy considers the HESS's economic and operational costs, degradation issues, and dynamic and physical constraints while tracking reference signals and smoothing out RES power variations. Moreover, the controller based on model predictive control is designed using the sequential optimization technique that prioritizes power production smoothing before cost-saving operation. The efficiency of the strategy is proven through analysis, which reveals its ability to efficiently manage the microgrid by satisfying constraints and energy requests, minimizing device costs, and extending the lifespan of components.