Smart Energy Management for Residential PV Microgrids: ESP32-Based Indirect Control of Commercial Inverters for...

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Background:

• Residential photovoltaic (PV) systems often face limitations with commercial inverters restricting Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) energy injection into the grid.
• Existing energy management systems (EMS) can be expensive or require significant hardware modifications for advanced control.
• Prosumers need accessible solutions to actively participate in energy trading and flexibility markets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective, IoT-enabled EMS for residential PV microgrids with BESS.
• To enable indirect control of commercial inverters for BESS energy injection using Modbus communication.
• To optimize energy management in response to market signals and electricity prices.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an EMS on an ESP32 microcontroller for IoT connectivity.
• Indirect control of inverters by manipulating wattmeter readings via Modbus communication.
• Real-world experimentation to validate system performance and energy flow management.

Main Results:

• The proposed system successfully enabled BESS energy injection into the grid, overcoming commercial inverter limitations.
• Dynamic energy flow management was achieved with minimal tracking errors.
• The system demonstrated robust performance in optimizing energy usage based on market signals and electricity prices.

Conclusions:

• The developed EMS offers a practical and affordable solution for residential PV microgrids with BESS.
• This approach empowers prosumers to engage in energy trading and flexibility markets using readily available technology.
• The system provides a pathway for enhanced grid integration and economic benefits for homeowners with PV installations.