An optimization based architecture for local systems managed by PLC devices

Hybrid systems at the local scale (from nanogrids to low voltage microgrids) that include renewables have experienced an extraordinary growth all over the world and have attracted the attention of both academies and industries to build economic and environmental appealing solutions based on innovative control architectures. These architectures have to take into account the uncertainty and the intermittency of renewables, and should provide in the future services to the Distribution System Operator. In this paper, two approaches are combined: an upper level MPC (Model Predictive Control)-based optimization algorithm provides set points to a lower level algorithm implemented on a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The approach is tested for a portion of the University of Genova Smart Polygeneration Microgrid.