Co-optimizing Behind-The-Meter Resources under Net Metering

TL;DR

This paper develops a co-optimization framework for behind-the-meter resources under net metering policies, optimizing demand scheduling and storage to maximize benefits and achieve net-zero energy zones.

Contribution

It introduces a load priority-based co-optimization policy and quantifies net-zero zones under various distributed energy resource configurations.

Findings

Optimal scheduling defers less prioritized loads during high generation periods.

Storage policies minimize grid imports and exports for inflexible demands.

Simulations demonstrate surplus gains for different customer DER setups.

Abstract

We consider the problem of co-optimizing behind-the-meter (BTM) storage and flexible demands with BTM stochastic renewable generation. Under a generalized net energy metering (NEM) policy-NEM X, we show that the optimal co-optimization policy schedules the flexible demands based on a load priority list that defers less prioritized loads to times when the BTM generation is abundant. This gives rise to the notion of a net-zero zone, which we quantify under different distributed energy resources (DER) compositions. We highlight the special case of inflexible demands that results in a storage policy that minimizes the imports and exports from and to the grid. Comparative statics are provided on the optimal co-optimization policy. Simulations using real residential data show the surplus gains of various customers under different DER compositions.