Edge-Cloud Based EMS for Distributed ESS Integration in Smart Grids

The ongoing energy transition is driving the transformation of the traditional centralized electric system into a decentralized one, integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) along the grid. This paper presents a digital hierarchical Energy Management System (EMS) for integrating distributed energy storage systems in these decentralized Smart Grids. This EMS is deployed in an Edge-Cloud architecture and has been validated in a test bench for a self-consumption case study. The proposed work obtained a self-consumption level of 100% and significant increases in self-sufficiency levels and electricity bill savings. The hierarchical and digitalized control of a DER has been successfully validated, allowing the optimal integration of DERs and fostering their participation in grid services. The aggregation of these DERs can provide the increasing distribution grid flexibility requirements, thanks to the scalability and interoperability characteristics of the presented architecture, opening the participation into new flexibility energy markets and the path to a more resilient and reliable grid.