Software-in-the-Loop validation of a metaheuristic-based energy management system in a multi-source microgrid

Abstract

This paper presents the Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) validation of an energy management system (EMS) designed for a multi-source microgrid (MG) integrating renewable energy sources (RES) alongside a gas turbine as a backup unit. The MG is interconnected with the main grid, allowing bidirectional energy exchange to satisfy variable demand profiles. The proposed EMS relies on a metaheuristic optimization algorithm to schedule active and reactive power flows, with the aim of reducing operational costs and CO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> emissions while maximizing the use of RES. The validation process follows a Model-Based Design (MBD) methodology, moving from Model-in-the-Loop (MIL) to SIL phases to ensure functional correctness and robustness of the EMS before hardware deployment. The SIL setup consists of the EMS controller running as code compiled in real time, interacting dynamically with the MG model simulated in MAT-LAB/Simulink. The main scenarios evaluated include daily power exchange profiles, cumulative CO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> emissions, and the degree of integration of RES. The results show that metaheuristic-based EMS outperforms conventional rule-based strategies, achieving notable improvements in emission reduction, cost savings, and renewable energy utilization. This work highlights the effectiveness of SIL testing as an essential step in validating complex EMS algorithms under realistic operating conditions.