Home based solar power generation, storage, and localised energy grids

The increasing population growth and the associated energy demands places strains on the current supply network systems and the environment. Micro-grids, consisting of aggregated residential solar systems is a novel way to address these issues. Undermining this concept is the need to determine household energy use profiles as demonstrated by Firth et al. (2008); These profiles need to be matched to suitable solar system installations with sufficient reserve to contribute to a micro-grid network. Existing generic installation packages are designed based on government rebate offers and imposed grid export limitations. A localised micro-grid needs to consider detailed energy profile use and reserve potential for extend periods of reduced generation capability. In considering the analysis of energy profiles, a tool is developed to determine suitable residential packages for future proofing implementation into micro-grid networks. Spread sheet tools were developed to categorised energy profiling using categorisation methods adapted from Firth et al. (2008) for simplification into low, medium and large household energy consumers. Also, in conjunction, the existing export limitations were used as an initial adjustable base for the spread sheet tool to determine suitable installation package designs. Product selections were based on a weighted rating analysis of product specifications and economic criteria. The subsequent packages were followed up with analysis of system performance and individual suitability. With the exception of the imposed export limitation, many of the existing generic packages are useful. Simply scaling of these designs for surplus production is all that would be required for integration into micro-grid networks. The current payback period of storage batteries is prohibitive and generally exceeds their lifetime performance expectancy, however they are considered to be an integral component of micro-grid networks. Micro-grid networks create an opportunity to test the development of an open decentralised energy market (Mengelkamp et al. 2018). The economic impact of this idea warrants investigation. The developed tool will be useful in selecting package designs for implementing into micro-grid networks. It would need significant adaptation for incorporating the economic implications of an open energy market