Optimal Allocation of Energy Storage Capacity in Microgrids Considering the Uncertainty of Renewable Energy Generation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper presents a method for optimally allocating energy storage capacity for microgrids using renewable energy, with uncertainties in operating conditions. The methods used to address the problem are interesting, and the results were validated with a test case. Some minor things should be addressed:

1. It is not clear what is meant by `new' energy as used in this paper. Is this a special term, or does it simply mean newly generated energy?

2. The meaning of lines 110--113 are not clear.

3. What is meant by `intra-day and intra-day' in line 128?

Some punctuation errors are present in the paper: capitalisation in the Abstract, line 100.

Author Response

Thank you for your constructive suggestions which would help us to improve the quality of this paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In this paper, authors use a long dispatching period scenario generation method combining CGAN and LHS to generate net new energy generation scenarios, and use a scenario reduction algorithm to obtain a typical scenario set, which is then used as the operating scenario to derive the optimal energy storage allocation capacity through a Double-layer optimization model. However, there are some minor comments that need to be addressed before publication stage.
1. In this paper, the PSO nested CPLEX solver is used to solve the proposed model, but only the two parameters of population number and maximum number of iterations are given, please add the parameter settings of inertia weight and learning factors.
2. Due to geographical and financial constraints, the maximum amount of energy storage capacity that can be configured in a microgrid is often limited, but this constraint is not set in this paper.
3. The paper mentions " The upper layer aims to optimize the energy storage allocation capacity by minimizing the expected annual total cost of centralized operation of microgrid in multi-day typical scenarios, and the lower layer aims to minimize the operation cost. Optimize the microgrid operation plan under each typical scenario.", but at which stage is the optimizing the operation plan under each scenario performed? It is not described clearly here. 
4. Line 246 of the paper mentions " ", but when k=1, there is no variable f0.

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Thank you for your constructive suggestions which would help us to improve the quality of this paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper proposes an optimal allocation method of microgrid energy storage capacity that integrates intra-day and inter-day dispatch requirements. The work presented in this papers is thorough, well presented, explained and documented. The problem of considering the uncertainty and high dimension of new energy generation in allocation stage of energy storage in Microgrid is indeed a very crucial one. There only a few comments I would like the authors to take into account：

1）References should not be cited in this paper using superscripts.

2）Page 5, line 176: The   in equation (7) and its interpretation are repeated in equation (26), should the two places be variables representing different meanings?

3）Page 7, line 271: The meaning of T is illustrated in Equation (26), but its first appearance is in Equation (7).

4）Page 8, line 303: RMB should be expressed as "CNY x" rather than "x yuan", please check the entire paper carefully.

5） In section 5.2.3, the comparison of annualized total cost and contact line power fluctuation under different allocation methods is given. In order to better compare the ability of microgrid to consume new energy under different allocation methods, should the corresponding power of wind and Photovoltaic abandonment be given?

 Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Thank you for your constructive suggestions which would help us to improve the quality of this paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Review Process

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  Paper id: Sustainability-2428869

  Title: Optimal Allocation of Energy Storage Capacity in Microgrids Considering the Uncertainty of New Energy Generation

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This study provides a double-layer optimization allocation model using PSO and CPLEX solvers for microgrid energy storage capacity. First, the energy storage allocation capacity is optimized. Second, the microgrid operating plans in each typical scenario is optimized. The paper rises very important aspects but before publication some improvements are required:

1.      Rewrite the abstract section to include information such as the purpose, design/methodology/approach, findings, and originality/value. What was discovered in the study, as well as the study's uniqueness, should be highlighted in the abstract. Statistical numerical findings are quite useful in demonstrating the paper's strengths.

2.      Quantitative merits are helpful to enrich the abstract.

3.      The paper introduction needs an additional section related to the energy storage allocation problem.‏ some possible articles that can help you are pv and battery energy storage integration in distribution networks using equilibrium algorithm; a multi-objective equilibrium optimization for optimal allocation of batteries in distribution systems with lifetime maximization.

4.      The literature review may be enhanced considering storage battery devices parameter modelling. some possible articles that can help you are parameter identification and state of charge estimation of li-ion batteries used in electric vehicles using artificial hummingbird optimizer; nonlinear dynamic model for parameter estimation of li-ion batteries using supply–demand algorithm.

5.      Also, microgrid structures should be emphasized. some possible articles that can help you are a review of microgrid energy management strategies; review on the microgrid concept, structures, components, communication systems, and control methods; renewable energy micro-grid interfacing: economic and environmental issues.

6.      Figure 1, the displayed towers do not belong to distribution system. Redraw it.

7.      Title “3.1 Scenario Generation of Daily Det Generation Power Based on CGAN”. I believe that Det should be Net.

8.      In the formulated equations, several parameters are existing, and their specified values are not stated. Add tables in the appendix to state the values of all coefficients.

9.      More discussions are required to discuss the presented figures.

10.  I believe section 4 should be a subsection in section 3

No comments

Author Response

Thank you for your constructive suggestions which would help us to improve the quality of this paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 4 Report

The authors do all the comments. It is accepted for publication.

No comments.