Optimal operation of hybrid power systems including renewable sources in the sugar cane industry

This study presents a control structure, based on model predictive control, applied to energy management optimisation in a sugar cane processing plant including renewable sources. The proposed energy plant is set upon a sugar cane processing industry and has to produce and maintain an amount of electric power throughout the year, defined by contract. This plant is, also, bound to produce flows of steam in different pressures, to comply to the demands of the production process of ethanol and sugar, from the sugar cane. The renewable sources in the system include photovoltaic, wind power generation and the use of biomass, from the remains of the sugar cane. The proposed control algorithm has the task of performing the management of which energy system to use (combined heat and power generation systems, boilers or others), maximise the use of renewable energy sources, maximise the gains of the boilers (that vary according to the biomass mixture used), manage the use of energy storages and supply the defined amount of energy. Simulation results show the satisfactory operation of the proposed control structure.