Coalition formation strategies for cooperative operation of multiple microgrids

Energy cooperation among microgrids (MGs) by enabling local energy exchanges among them, is an appealing new solution to cope up with the impending energy crises. Specifically, energy can be wheeled among MGs to supply their deficits using the surplus of others. This study, therefore, presents an interactive model for the coordinated energy management of a distribution network with clustered MGs. Each MG not only schedules its local power generation and load consumption but also trades energy with neighbouring MGs in the distribution network. The power exchanges among the MGs, and that between the MGs and the distribution network are coordinated using a cooperative coalitional game theoretic approach. The framework aims at alleviating the distribution power losses while ensuring that all system variables, such as bus voltages, line flows, and reactive power requirements are within specified limits. Various system intermittencies are captured through scenario generation and reduction processes. Case studies on the IEEE-33 bus and PG & E-69 bus test systems with multiple coalitions forming MGs demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving network payoffs, voltage profiles and alleviating the network losses and curtailment of available non-dispatchable resources.