Technical-Economic Assessment of a Dc Microgrid for Electroplating Industry

This study deals with the implementation of a DC microgrid powered by a photovoltaic (PV) system and a Battery Energy Storage (BES) system to supply DC loads in a plating industry. These loads, typically from chromium-based surface coating processes, are characterized by low voltage (10 - 20 V) and high currents (5-10 kA). The objective of the study is to reduce energy consumption, lower electricity costs, and minimize current ripple affecting the loads. Since PV systems cannot provide a continuous energy supply, the system includes an interface with the AC grid through a bidirectional DC /AC converter. This hybrid converter allows feeding excess PV energy back to the grid, still guaranteeing electricity supply when needed. The study focuses on determining the optimal PV system size and BES capacity size to maximize the Net Present Value (NPV) of investments-originated savings. Industrial electricity load profiles, PV generation data derived from 18 years of average hourly irradiation, and three years of electricity price profiles are used for the optimization inputs. BES power is optimized over a one-year period to minimize grid energy exchange, with annual cost curves to maximize the NPV.