Design and Performance Investigation of a Pilot Micro-grid in the Mediterranean: MCAST Case Study

This paper discusses the simulation framework developed for an in-campus pilot micro-grid at MCAST, Malta, to enhance its efficiency and reliability. One year of real-time metered data has been used to arrive at the load curves, categorize the loads as essential and non-essential ones, and decide the micro-grid domain within MCAST. The potential scenarios are modeled to observe the behavior of the present status of the micro-grid, with an increased photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity, by using an optimum battery storage system with a diesel generator of suitable capacity and finally integrating electric vehicles (EVs) to discuss the potential of vehicle to grid (V2G) operation modes. The existing building management system (BMS) of MCAST is interfaced within the micro-grid to introduce the geographic information system (GIS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) for developing an intelligent 3D Model of the micro-grid. The results of the simulation framework for various potential case scenarios are obtained in MATLAB/Simulink environment to assess the performance of the micro-grid. Previously formulated key performance indices (KPIs) that describe the financial aspects of micro-grid operation and ecological benefits of the investigated micro-grid have been evaluated. A sensitivity analysis of these KPIs shows encouraging results with the potential of cost-competitiveness