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This work presents the development of a decision-making strategy for fulfilling the power and heat demands of small residential neighborhoods. The decision on the optimal operation of a microgrid is based on the model predictive control (MPC) rolling horizon. In the design of the residential microgrid, the new approach different technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) arrays, micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) units, conventional boilers and heat and electricity storage tanks are considered. Moreover, electricity transfer between the microgrid components and the national grid are possible. The MPC problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model. The proposed novel approach is applied to two case studies: one without electricity storage, and one integrated microgrid with electricity storage. The results show the benefits of considering the integrated microgrid, as well as the advantage of including electricity storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a framework for the use of variable pricing to control electricity imported/exported to/from both fixed and unfixed residential distributed energy resource (DER) network designs. The framework shows that networks utilizing much of their own energy, and importing little from the national grid, are barely affected by dynamic import pricing, but are encouraged to sell more by dynamic export pricing. An increase in CO2 emissions per kWh of energy produced is observed for dynamic import and export, against a baseline configuration utilizing constant pricing. This is due to feed-in tariffs (FITs) that encourage CHP generation over lower-carbon technologies. Furthermore, batteries are shown to be expensive in systems receiving income from FITs and grid exports, but for the cases when they sell to/buy from the grid using dynamic pricing, their use in the networks becomes more economical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Framework based on smart sensors and ICT technologies to facilitate prediction of pest incidence in organic banana crops. • Hybrid approach integrating mechanistic and data-based metods. • Models adapted from population growth function. • Linear and nonlinear dynamic relationships with atmospheric variables. Various pests which diminish the quality of the fruit have a big influence on the organic banana production in the Piura region of Peru (and not only) and prevent it from being sold on the international market. In this study, a framework for facilitating the prediction of the pest incidence in organic banana crops is developed. To achieve this, a data acquisition system with smart sensors is implemented to monitor the meteorological variables that influence the growth of the pests. The proposed framework is utilised for the assessment of various mathematical representations of the pest incidence. These models are adapted from population growth functions and built in such way as to predict the behaviour of the insects at non-regular time intervals. A hybrid approach, combining mechanistic and data-based methods is utilised for the development of the models. Both linear and nonlinear dynamic relationships with the temperature are assumed. The results show that nonlinear model representations have greater accuracy (a fit index of more than 70%), which provides a basis for improving pest management actions on the organic banana farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]