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Proposed Optimised Smart Grid System using Multi-Agent System

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DOI: 10.1109/ISGT-Asia.2018.8467814

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 Proposed Optimised Smart Grid System using
Multi-Agent System
Weixian Li Thillainathan Logenthiran
Member, IEEE Senior Member, IEEE
School of EEE School of EEE
Newcastle University Newcastle University
Singapore Campus Singapore Campus
w.li17@newcastle.ac.uk t.logenthiran@ncl.ac.uk
Abstract—Smart grid is a two-way communication power grid
that leads to a reliable and efficient electrical distribution grid.
Smart grid technology provides a more productive usage of
electricity through Artificial intelligence (AI). This paper shows
the potential of implementing an optimised smart grid system
with the use of Multi-Agent System (MAS) in a power grid en-
vironment. It optimises the electricity efficiency and distribution
of smart grid on different level. The efficient communication of
MAS and algorithm of Energy Management System (EMS) both
work together to reduce electricity wastage while optimizing con-
sumers comfort, electricity cost and reduce overloading of power
supply. Thus, the optimised smart grid system was designed and
developed with the use of MAS for its IEEE FIPA standards
compliant communication system. Simulation studies carried out
on the proposed system shows its potential to provide the optimal
solutions to achieve better electricity distribution efficiency and
electricity bill price. This paper demonstrates how the influences
of different level of EMS with MAS decision making system will
affect the smart grid.
Index Terms—Smart grid, Multi-agent system, Energy man-
agement system, Electricity bill
I. I NTRODUCTION
There are three main processes of the power industry such
as generation, transmission and distribution. Power generation
is often done within a power plant in order to supply the power
grid with electricity [1]. Transmission of electricity is a process
that goes through substation that step-downs from high voltage
to low voltage or the reverse way. Finally, the electricity is
then distributed to the end-users who are usually industrial,
commercial and residential consumers [2], [3]. However, the
next generation of intelligent power grid concept was named
smart grid.
Smart grid has the capabilities of sensing grid situations,
measuring power and controlling appliances with a two-way
communication to electricity generations, transmission and
distribution of the power grid. This concept of intelligent
power grid is to perform independent adaptations of its el-
ements for optimal electricity consumption through artificial
intelligence technique such as Energy Management System
(EMS).
Integrating a Energy Management System (EMS) into smart
grids to achieve high efficiency of distribution with sustain-
ability of power. This system is a realistic design and devel-
Van-Tung Phan Wai Lok Woo
Senior Member, IEEE Senior Member, IEEE
School of EEE School of EEE
Newcastle University Newcastle University
Singapore Campus Singapore Campus
vantung.phan@ncl.ac.uk lok.woo@ncl.ac.uk
opment with the use of ICT (Information & Communications
Technology)-enabled collaborative technical for smart grid
in Singapore. Smart grid fundamental concept of a modern
electrical power grid leads to a more reliable, efficient and
decentralized environment which will increase the productivity
of electricity usage [4], [5].
Multi-agent system is an intelligent agent-based communi-
cation system that shows its capability to be implemented in
a smart grid. This system comprises multiple agents or intelli-
gent agents to interact regardless of the environment. An agent
is a hardware or software entity that can respond differently
due to the changes in an environment. The implementation of
multi-agent system in the EMS for smart grid allows fast data
transfer between agents to allow algorithm computations.
This paper proposes an optimised smart grid system that
uses EMS and MAS to develop. This proposed system opti-
mises the electricity consumption from power grid to home
level through the communication of MAS and EMS algo-
rithms. It ensures a reliable and energy efficient way for the
power usage in a smart grid.
The remaining paper is organized as follows: Section II
presents background information about this paper. Section
III explains the methodology used. Section IV describes the
proposed MAS architecture for optimised smart grid system.
Section V provides simulation results and discussion. Finally,
the paper is concluded in the section VI.
II. BACKGROUND I NFORMATION
A. Energy Management System (EMS)
Energy Management System (EMS) is a software system
that is designed to monitor, control and optimize the electricity
generation, transmission and distribution in smart grids [6].
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) which
is an important part of EMS that provides the monitor and
control functions. The advanced applications is a part of EMS
which provides the optimization function.
B. Supply Side Management (SSM)
Supply Side Management (SSM), known for generation
scheduling, is a function of EMS. It schedules the power from
different generation units over a period while considering the
constraints of the systems. The objectives of SSM include the agent change its behaviour in order to achieve the desig-
start-up, shut-down and electricity production decisions which nated goals.
are largely associated with financial costs that will result in As shown in Fig.1, in a MAS-based smart home energy
large-scale optimization issues. management architecture, agents used are represented by either
Modern power grid consist multiple power generators which a hardware or a software that are responsible to learn from
increases the number of generation units due to increasing different situations, environmental conditions and owners habit
electricity demand. This problem would result in additional in order to react accordingly [15].
reconstruction time due to changes in the environment, the
demand of electricity must be lower to achieve a effectual
grid at lower pricing As such, improvement of SSM problem-
solving capabilities play a significant role in EMS to result a
change in the system [7], [8]. Thus, a better balance in supply
and demand would result in an efficient power grid [9].
C. Demand Side Management (DSM)
Demand-Side Management (DSM) is another significant
function of EMS. It is designed to reduce electricity consump-
tions and provide high efficiency distribution of electricity
to consumers [10]. Consumer electricity bills can be greatly
reduced if electricity is used more during off-peak hours rather
than peak hours due to cheaper electricity tariff prices. For this
purpose, DSM helps to reduce consumer electricity cost and
increase the efficient of electricity usage.
Current approaches to reduce electricity consumptions had
been done either by directly controlling the consumer devices
or provide the choice of using electricity during off-peak
hours due to cheaper electricity tariff rates. By integrating
smart meters, it makes a significant difference that would
allow consumers to monitor their electricity consumptions and
reschedule their usage of electricity [11]. Fig. 1: A MAS architecture for energy management system
D. Multi-Agent System
The following main agent groups are known to be involved
Multi-Agent System (MAS) is a distributed computational in the architecture for smart home energy management and its
intelligent technique which involve two or more multi-agents optimization.
or intelligent agents. In such system, there are no overall
1) Control and Monitoring Device Agent (CMDA)
system goal, but there are goals for individual agents. Till now,
Agents that are responsible for direct control or mon-
MAS is extensively used in modelling approach which can be
itoring of sensors and actuators. These control and
either hardware or software system [12]. It is applied in the
monitoring agents can be seen from Fig.1:
industry through market simulation, network and automation
control, condition monitoring and power system restoration • Monitoring Group Agents (MGA): Monitoring a

[13], [14]. group of loads energy consumptions in the house-

There are a few essential characteristics that an agent
should abide. The main characteristics of an agent are briefly
explained below:
• Social ability: Having able to interact with other intel-
ligent agents is essential where this implies more than
simple passing of data between software and hardware
entities, but also the ability to negotiate and interact in a
cooperative manner. This is commonly strengthened by
Agent Communication Language (ACL).
• Reactivity: This characteristic enables the agent to react
immediately to changes caused by the environment and
leap in based on the changes with regard to the specified
function designed to it.
• Pro-activeness: This characteristic enables the agent to
parade a goal-directed behaviour. This implies that an
hold. As shown in Fig.1, it monitors device perfor-
mance as well as home automation system.
• Device Agents (DA): controls (on/off switches) or
monitor load or generation devices (i.e. washing
machines).
2) Data Retrieving Agent (DRA)
This agent retrieves applicable information that are rel-
evant for the operations of house devices.
• Energy Agents (EA): Handles government policies
and tariff system for energy.
• User Agents (UA): Users input controls based on
users preferences.
• Smart Meter Agents (SMA): Handles the smart
metering system with external signals from utility
companies or others.
 3) Operation Agents (OA)
This agent forecast, display and reschedule base on
user’s information.
• Display Agents (DA): Display information for cus-
tomers view.
• Prediction Agents (PA): Predict the price, energy
used and loads.
• Rescheduling Agents (RA): Allocate shiftable loads
on ideal times.
4) Coordination and Optimization Agents (COA)
This agent manages and optimize all the distributed
agents involved. It observes, coordinate and set the
overall control strategy based on user’s preferences. It
is constantly broadcast to all agents for updates.
JADE (Java Agent DEevelopment Framework) is a java
based software framework available for multi-agent system
development. This framework makes the implementation of
multi-agent systems through a middle-ware that complies with
the IEEE FIPA standards [16], [17]. JADE libraries utilised the
implementation of agents, behaviours and ontology as a direct
extension to correspond JADE classes. Concepts, predictors
and agent actions are the basic components of ontology
and with the extension of JADE. Flexibility to develop new
ontology has been created to structure information between
agents [18].
III. P ROPOSED O PTIMIZED S MART G RID S YSTEM
Fig. 2 shows the proposed Optimized Smart Grid system
for smart grid. The overall design for smart grid consist of the
following systems:
1) Intelligent Power Grid Distribution System (IPGDS)
a) Grid System
• Industrial Grid
• Commercial Grid
• Residential Grid
– Housing Development Building Management
System (HDBMS)
b) Renewable Energy System
• PowerGrid Photovoltaics (PV) System
• Tidal Energy
• Wind Energy
2) Housing Development Building Management System
(HDBMS)
a) Supply Side Building Management System
• Building PV system
• Building Main Grid
• Building Electric Vehicle
b) Demand Side Building Management System
• Building Facilities
• Home Energy Management System
3) Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
a) Supply Side Management System
• PV system
• Main Grid
• Electric Vehicle
b) Demand Side Management System
• Home Appliances
This system design from Power grid to Household unit
could potentially be able to optimize the total electricity
demand in the power grid level. It uses the different energy
management system in different level of supply and demand to
optimise the energy consumption. By integrating independent
developed system into a whole system named Optimized Smart
Grid system. The following sections explains the detail of the
different components.
A. Intelligent Power Grid Distribution System (IPGDS)
The Intelligent Power Grid Distribution System(IPGDS)
optimizes the electrical distribution on the Power Grid Level
integrated with Renewable Energy System and the electricity
market. The IPGDS was designed by the followings:
1) Grid System: Collects the total electricity demand sep-
arated by Contestable and Non-Contestable.
• Industrial Grid: Simulates the total electric-
ity demand separated by Contestable and Non-
Contestable electricity supplies in the industrial sec-
tors.
• Commercial Grid: Simulates the total electric-
ity demand separated by Contestable and Non-
Contestable electricity supplies in the Commercial
sectors.
• Residential Grid: Simulates the total electric-
ity demand separated by Contestable and Non-
Contestable electricity supplies in the Residential
sectors.
– Housing Development Building Management
System (HDBMS): Optimized the demand within
residential building level for residential grid.
2) Renewable Energy System: Simulates the total renew-
able energy received from the following sources:
• PowerGrid Photovoltaics (PV) System: Power gen-
erated from solar (sunlight) and battery storage in
grid level.
• Tidal Energy: Power generated from tidal waves.
• Wind Energy: Power generated from wind.
The systems component plays a part in developing the
algorithm for optimal distribution in Power Grids. The detail
of the algorithm is explained by W. Li. et al., [19].
B. Housing Development Building Management System
(HDBMS)
The Housing Development Building Management System
(HDBMS) aims to optimize the energy efficiency and elec-
tricity costs within a residential buildings. The HDBMS was
designed by the followings:
1) Supply Side Building Management System: It optimizes
the Supply of HDBMS by using the following compo-
nents:
 Fig. 2: Optimized Smart Grid System design
• Building PV system: Power generated from solar
(sunlight) and battery storage in building level.
• Building Main Grid: Power supply from building
grid level.
• Building Electric Vehicle: Emergency power supply
from the electric vehicle’s battery in building level.
2) Demand Side Building Management System: It collects
and calculate the total demand from the following
sources:
• Building Facilities: The demand from building other
than the household units.
• Home Energy Management System: Optimized de-
mand on household units for residential buildings.
The system components should overall develop an algorithm
to provide the optimal electricity distribution within the resi-
dential building. The detail of the algorithm is explained by
W. Li. et al., [20].
C. Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
The Home Energy Management System (HEMS) optimizes
residential household units by consumers comfort, electricity
cost and reduce overloading of power supply. The HEMS was
designed by the followings:
1) Supply Side Management System: It optimizes the Sup-
ply of HEMS by using the following components:
• PV system: Power generated from solar (sunlight)
and battery storage in home level.
• Main Grid: Power supply from home grid level.
• Electric Vehicle: Emergency power supply from the
electric vehicle’s battery for home level.
2) Demand Side Management System: It collects and cal-
culate the total demand from the following sources:
• Home Appliances: Home devices (eg. Com-
puter,Television and etc..).
These components builds the capability of residential house-
hold optimization through electrical distribution optimal algo-
rithms. The detail of the algorithm is explained by W. Li. et
al., [21].
IV. P ROPOSED M ULTI -AGENT S YSTEM DESIGN
The Multi-Agent was designed in 3 communication levels:
Power Grid, Building and home level. The Optimized Smart
Grid system communication design is shown in Fig. 2. This
hierarchical system allows smart appliances and agents to
have a designated communication. The decision making of
agents have been implemented with optimization algorithm.
The hierarchical system would help to control or manage
overall smart grid easier so that it has flexibility upgrade the
system when necessary. Table I provides the agents in the
Optimized Smart Grid system.
 TABLE I: Agents for Optimized Smart Grid system • PowerGrid Photovoltaics (PV) System: Sends the
Agent total harvested electricity data from PPV to RES.
Names Representative
Representative • Tidal Energy: Sends the total harvested electricity
Photovoltaics (PV) System PVSystem PVSystemAgent
Main Grid MG MGAgent
data from TE to RES.
Electric Vehicle EV EVAgent • Wind Energy: Sends the total harvested electricity
Supply Side
SSM SSMAgent data from WE to RES.
Management System
Home Appliances HA HAAgent B. Building level
Demand Side
DSM DSMAgent The Housing Development Building Management System
Management System
Home Energy
HEMS HEMSAgent (HDBMS) collects the data from the Supply Side Building
Management System Management System and Demand Side Management Building
Building Facilities BF BFAgent
Demand Side Building System to compute the data. The HDBMS communication is
DSBM DSBMAgent
Management System designed by the followings:
Building PV System BPV BPVAgent
Building Main Grid BMG BMGAgent
1) Supply Side Building Management System: Receive
Building Electric Vehicle BEV BEVAgent data from the building supply sources and inform the
Supply Side
SSBM SSBMAgent
HDBMS.
Building Management System
• Building PV system: Sends the total harvested elec-
Housing Development
HDBMS HDBMSAgent tricity data from BPV to SSBM.
Building Management System
Residential Grid RG RGAgent • Building Main Grid: Sends the total building supply
Commercial Grid CG CGAgent
Industrial Grid IG IGAgent
grid data to SSBM.
Grid System GS GSAgent • Building Electric Vehicle: Sends the total BEV’s
PowerGrid PV System PPV PPVAgent electricity data to SSBM.
Wind Energy WE WEAgent
Tidal Energy TE TEAgent
2) Demand Side Building Management System: Receive
Renewable Energy System RES RESAgent data from the building demand sources and inform the
Intelligent Power Grid
IPGD IPGDAgent HDBMS.
Distribution System
• Building Facilities: Sends the electricity demand
data from BF to the DSBM.
The Multi-agent system shows the creation and registration • Home Energy Management System (HEMS): Sends
process of the agents for this project. It had established a the electricity demand data from HEMS to the
type of communication between agents. The communications DSBM.
involve ACL message that allows the message to set per-
formatives like SUBSCRIBE, CONFIRM and INFORM as C. Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
information will be sent base on the type of request. The detail The Home Energy Management System (HEMS) collects
of the agents communication will be explained in the following the data from the Supply Side Management System and
sections. Demand Side Management System to compute the data. The
HEMS communication is designed by the followings:
A. Power Grid level 1) Supply Side Management System: Receive data from the
Intelligent Power Grid Distribution System (IPGDS) col- home supply sources and inform the HEMS.
lects the data from the Grid System and Renewable Energy • PV system: Sends the total harvested electricity data

System to compute the data. The IPGDS communication is
designed by the followings:
1) Grid System: Receive data from the 3 grids and inform
the IPGDS
• Industrial Grid: Sends the electricity demand data
from IG to the GS.
• Commercial Grid: Sends the electricity demand data
from CG to the GS.
• Residential Grid: Sends the electricity demand data
from RG to the GS.
– Housing Development Building Management
System (HDBMS): Sends the electricity demand
within residential building level for RG.
2) Renewable Energy System: Receive data from the re-
newable energy sources and inform the IPGDS.
from PVSystem to SSM.
• Main Grid: Sends the total home supply grid data
to SSM.
• Electric Vehicle: Sends the total EV’s electricity
data to SSM.
2) Demand Side Management System: Receive data from
the home supply sources and inform the HEMS.
• Home Appliances: Sends the electricity demand
data from HA to the DSM.
V. S IMULATION AND R ESULTS
As the design is based on W. Li .et.al., the algorithms
and communication results in each individual level of the
grid can be found on [19]–[21]. The simulated results were
done in JADE and JAVA. Fig. 3 shows the overall MAS
communication simulation results.

Fig. 3: MAS communication
Fig. 4 shows the overall MAS with calculation results.
Fig. 4: MAS with calculation results
VI. C ONCLUSION
In this paper, the optimised smart grid system was designed
and developed using multi-agent system based on the con-
sumer comfort, electricity efficiency and the electricity cost of
a household. This general concept of a smart grid energy man-
agement system allows consumers to enjoy the highest comfort
level with optimized overall power efficiency and electricity
bills through the use of multi-agent system functionalities with
home appliances. From the smart grid research point of view,
this provides a flexible decentralized control and management
system for residential electrical power system.
The optimised smart grid system software provides a poten-
tial solution to the smart nation concept by further enhancing
the smart grid technique that benefits the entire power grid. It
decreases overloading of the electricity generators in the power
grid due to its optimizing power redistribution capability
with the help of renewable energy sources. Ultimately, it
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demonstrates the potential of a more reliable, fault tolerance,
optimized, control and management system.
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