Towards Energy Efficiency in Microgrids for Smart Sustainable Cities

Microgrids are a critical component of smart and sustainable cities as they provide localized power generation and distribution that can be optimized for efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. Further, many microgrids are characterized for the presence of smart homes, which are an integral part of smart cities as they play a crucial role in improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of urban areas. One of the primary benefits of smart homes is the ability to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, for example, by automatically adjusting the temperature, lighting, and other settings to optimize energy usage based on the users’ needs and preferences. However, the efficient management of smart homes located in microgrids is still an open question. In particular, the efficient management of microgrids including smart homes requires measuring and processing a large amount of electrical data related to the energy generated by the power sources of the microgrid, the energy consumed by the loads (home appliances), the level of battery storage and the amount of transferred power flow between the microgrid and the main grid. This paper reflects on how to measure electrical variables at different points of the microgrids using low-cost smart meters with IoT capabilities and how to apply Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) methods for energy efficiency purposes. The empirical study involving a real microgrid including a hybrid wind-solar generation system and a set of home appliances show that it is possible to collect data of different parts of the microgrid for efficient management purposes.