An overview of renewable energy resources and grid integration for commercial building applications

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the integration of renewable energy resources in the urban sector. The article also describes the current global energy demand and growth challenges that the world is currently facing. The literature survey on the global energy scenario and renewable energy integration, which mainly involves solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS), is presented. The paper also addresses the different contexts of using renewable energy resources (RERs) and grid-connected applications. It develops the concept of PV energy storage integration in commercial building applications. Since the common RERs such as wind and solar vary according to seasonal and geographic locations, an outline of the energy storage system that provides a platform for optimal use of RERs is also presented. This structure refers to their ability and dynamic structure that can combine with the renewable power generation to maximise the use of RERs and to ensure the total energy supply to the load. It was observed that the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) which are connected to the grid is beneficial when the PV and energy storage system (ESS) are smartly mixed with the utility grid. The primary purpose of this energy mix is to assist in improving the dynamic performance of any electrical network operating in a commercial building setup. Thus, this research work analyses the possibility of designing dynamic behaviour for energy management for commercial building applications in South Africa.