Retroactive Control of SOFC-Based Microgrid for Optimal Power Management

This paper presents a retroactive control strategy for integrating Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) into inverter-dominated microgrids. The proposed approach adjusts the SOFC power reference in real time to minimize operational costs while addressing the economic challenges associated with SOFC startup. Unlike predictive methods, the strategy relies on historical cost signals and avoids the need for future forecasting. Theoretical analysis establishes a competitive ratio that quantifies its performance relative to the offline optimum. Simulation and controller-hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) results under both winter and summer conditions demonstrate that the strategy effectively adapts to fluctuations in renewable generation and maintains reliable system operation. The observed competitive ratios confirm the practicality of the proposed method for real-time microgrid energy management.