HOMER Energy webinar describes dispatch algorithms used in HOMER Energy software for the design of hybrid renewable distributed energy systems and microgrids.

1. HOMER’s Dispatch
Algorithms

2. The Market View
•Off-Grid
oHOMER Pro’s Cycle Charging
oHOMER Pro’s Load Following
oHOMER Pro’s Combined Dispatch
oHOMER Pro’s Predictive Dispatch
•Diesel-powered Utilities
oHOMER Pro’s Generator Order
•Grid-connected
oHOMER Grid

3. Load
Following
Cycle Charging
Combined
Dispatch
Generator
Order
HOMER
Predictive
All technologies
allowed
All technologies
allowed
Off-grid only
Single Generator
Optional
Multiple
generators; no
CHP
Off-grid only
Off –grid only
Single
Generator
Optional
System Architecture Capabilities

4. Off Grid
Systems

5. Off-Grid Dispatch Strategies
•Load following
oNever charge battery with the generator
•Cycle charging
oCharge battery as much as possible whenever generator is
needed
oStop charging at setpoint SOC
•Combined strategy
oIntelligently switches between LF & CC

6. Load Following vs. Cycle Charging
•Load following
oLess battery throughput
oMore headroom for renewables
oMore generator runtime and start/stops
oHigh penetration systems
•Cycle charging
oMaintain higher average state of charge
oMore fuel use
oMore battery throughput, shorter life
oLower penetration systems

7. Combined Dispatch
•For small systems with a single generator
oCycle Charging when net load is low
oLoad Following when net load is high
•Never a bad choice, especially for initial runs

8. Diesel-powered
Utilities

9. Generator Order
•Much faster with more than 2 generators
•More consistent with operator practice

10. Operating reserve (spinning reserve)
• HOMER commits generators to maintain operating reserve
oContingencies
oIntra-time step variations
• Capacity shortage > unmet load

11. HOMER
Predictive

12. Cycle Charging Shortcoming
100% SOC
Excess Energy
Electrical Load
PV Output
Generator Output
Battery Output
Excess Electrical Production
Battery State of Charge

13. HOMER Predictive Solution
0% SOC
Excess
Energy
Electrical Load
PV Output
Generator Output
Battery Output
Excess Electrical Production
Battery State of Charge

14. Load
Following
Cycle Charging
Combined
Dispatch
Generator
Order
HOMER
Predictive
All technologies
allowed
All technologies
allowed
Off-grid only
Single Generator
Optional
Multiple
generators; no
CHP
Off-grid only
Off –grid only
Single
Generator
Optional
System Architecture Capabilities
… Plus, HOMER Pro offers MATLAB and the Controller API

15. Grid-Connected
Systems

16. HOMER Grid’s Dispatch Value Streams
Peak Shaving or Demand Charge Reduction
Energy Arbitrage
Self-Consumption

17. Demand Charge Reduction

18. Peak Shaving with Two Demand Limits
On-Peak Times have a
lower demand limit to
ensure extra cost savings

19. Modeling Arbitrage in HOMER Grid
No Grid Purchases
During On-Peak Time
Grid Purchases Serve
Load During Shoulder
Battery is Charged
During Off-Peak Times

20. Maximize Self-Consumption
Min SOC ahead of
excess energy

21. Load
Following
Cycle
Charging
Combined
Dispatch
Generator
Order
HOMER
Predictive
HOMER Peak
Shaving
All
technologies
allowed
All
technologies
allowed
No grid
Single
Generator
Optional
Multiple
generators
No grid
No CHP
No grid
Single
Generator
Optional
Single Generator
Optional
Grid Connected
Compare by System Architecture Capabilities

22. MATLAB Link
&
Controller API

23. Join us for the next Webinar
Creating Your Own Control Dispatch
in HOMER Pro:
MATLAB and the Controller API
Wed, Oct 17, 2018 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM MDT