Power Systems 2.0: Designing an Energy Information System for Microgrid Operation

In this paper we demonstrate the contribution of information systems towards a sustainable and reliable power supply. Following a Design Science approach we develop an information system for microgrid operation at a U.S. army base. Microgrids enable an improved integration of distributed renewable energy sources and increase the robustness of the overall power grid. The microgrid in this study contains extensive photovoltaic generation, the energy demand of the base, as well as energy storage. The information system we design controls and optimizes microgrid operations under uncertainty, as well as physical and organizational constraints. Using real-world data to evaluate the system, we show that it substantially increases the amount of clean photovoltaic energy that can be generated while simultaneously decreasing energy costs of the base. Thereby, we are able to improve the ecological and economic efficiency of the microgrid.