Integrated simulation of photovoltaic micro-generation and domestic electricity demand: a one-minute resolution open-source model

Abstract

Domestic photovoltaic generation can partially offset the electricity demand within an individual dwelling. The net demand may be readily estimated on an annual basis, but modelling its import and export with respect to time, is more complex. A key issue is that domestic electricity demand, particularly lighting, is significantly influenced by the outdoor light level, which of course also has a direct effect on photovoltaic generation. Thus, realistic time-step simulation of the net demand requires that the two components are modelled with respect to a common representation of the solar irradiance. This article presents the construction of an integrated model that provides data at a one-minute time resolution, built upon a fully validated high-resolution electricity demand model. An open-source software implementation of the integrated model in VBA within Microsoft Excel is described and is available for free download.

Keywords

Micro-generation photovoltaic generation domestic lighting domestic electricity demand modelling

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Thomson

Infield

. Network power-flow analysis for a high penetration of distributed generation. IEEE Trans Power Syst 2007; 22(3): 1157–1162.

Swan

IsmetUgursal

. Modeling of end-use energy consumption in the residential sector: a review of modeling techniques. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2009; 13(8): 1819–1835.

Widén

Wäckelgård

. A high-resolution stochastic model of domestic activity patterns and electricity demand. Appl Energy 2010; 87(6): 1880–1892.

Stokes M. Domestic model layer 3, Removing barriers to embedded generation: a fine-grained load model to support low voltage network performance analysis. PhD Thesis, Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK, 2005.

Paatero

Lund

. A model for generating household electricity load profiles. Int J Energy Res 2006; 30(5): 273–290.

Capasso

Grattieri

Lamedica

. A bottom-up approach to residential load modeling. IEEE Trans Power Syst 1994; 9(2): 957–964.

Yao

Steemers

. A method of formulating energy load profile for domestic buildings in the UK. Energy Build 2005; 37(6): 663–671.

Armstrong

Swinton

Ribberink

. Synthetically derived profiles for representing occupant-driven electric loads in Canadian housing. J Build Perform Simul 2009; 2(1): 15–30.

Richardson

Thomson

Infield

. Domestic electricity use: a high-resolution energy demand model. Energy Build 2010; 42(10): 1878–1887.

10.

Richardson

Thomson

Infield

. A high-resolution domestic building occupancy model for energy demand simulations. Energy Build 2008; 40(8): 1560–1566.

11.

Richardson

Thomson

Infield

. Domestic lighting: a high-resolution energy demand model. Energy Build 2009; 41(7): 781–789.

12.

Betts TR and Gottschalg R. Irradiance data: solar irradiation data for Loughborough. Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University, UK, 2007.

13.

Dusabe

Munda

Jimoh

. Modelling of cloudless solar radiation for PV module performance analysis. J Electr Eng 2009; 60(4): 192–197.

14.

Masters

. Renewable and efficient electric power systems , Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

15.

Yogi Goswami

Kreith

Krieder

. Principles of solar engineering , 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Taylor & Francis, 2000.

16.

Honsberg C and Bowden S. PVEducation.org, http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/properties-of-sunlight/solar-time (2010, accessed 23 January 2012).

17.

Australian Government, IPS Radio and Space Services. The equation of time, http://www.ips.gov.au/Category/Educational/The%20Sun%20and%20Solar%20Activity/General%20Info/EquationOfTime.pdf (accessed 23 January 2012).

18.

Skartveit

Olseth

. The probability density and autocorrelation of short-term global and beam irradiance. Sol Energy 1992; 49(6): 477–487.

19.

Gottschalg

Betts

Infield

. The effect of spectral variations on the performance parameters of single and double junction amorphous silicon solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2005; 85(3): 415–428.

20.

Paatero

Lund

. Effects of large-scale photovoltaic power integration on electricity distribution networks. Renewable Energy 2007; 32: 216–234.

21.

Richardson I and Thomson M. Domestic electricity demand model—Integrated domestic electricity demand and PV micro-generation model. Loughborough University Institutional Repository, 2010, http://hdl.handle.net/2134/7773.

22.

Richardson I and Thomson M. Domestic electricity demand model—Simulation example. Loughborough University Institutional Repository, 2010, http://hdl.handle.net/2134/5786.