Highway self-contained multi-microgrid energy management strategy based on universal gravitation

Energy acts as a crucial driving force for transportation, while transportation functions as a significant role within the energy systems. Both sectors share the vital responsibility of enabling a low-carbon transition. The advancement of clean energy and the establishment of green transportation are the keys to achieving sustainable, low-carbon transformation of energy and transportation systems. This study addresses the challenges of energy management strategies within the nexus of energy and transportation, specifically targeting off-grid regions in Western China, where conventional power infrastructure is lacking and road traffic is critical. A two-tiered energy management approach is proposed for interconnected self-contained multi-microgrid (MMG) systems along road networks, inspired by the principles of gravitational law. The proposed framework consists of two phases: the energy exchange among microgrids (MGs) and the charging and discharging of individual MG energy storage systems (ESSs). This structure effectively mitigates the uncertainties inherent in renewable energy sources and load demands. A gravitational scheduling model is first developed by drawing analogies between the elements within the MGs and gravitational principles, determining energy exchanges at the MMG level. Following this, the ESS charging and discharging processes are then dictated by the remaining power imbalance. By optimizing the sequence and hierarchy of energy device interactions, this strategy minimizes operational costs while maximizing the system's self-contained capability. Simulation results provide compelling evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed energy management strategy in reducing operational costs and enhancing system self-contained performance, particularly in remote, off-grid areas of Western China.