Intelligent multi-agent system for smart home energy management

Smart grid literature shows a potential way to implement smart grid using Multi-Agent System (MAS) which is a distributed computational intelligence technique that comprises of multiple interactive intelligent agents in an environment. This paper presents an application of MAS technique for improving the efficiency and optimizing the energy usage of smart homes. The smart appliances in a smart home are modeled as agents and optimization algorithms are used in decision making of the agents. These agents work together to reduce energy consumption while striking a balance between consumers comfort, energy cost and peak energy saving in the distribution grid. Such a way, a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) was designed and developed using MAS. This research enables smart homes to communicate, interact and negotiate with energy sources and devices in smart homes that achieve maximum overall energy efficiency and minimum electricity bill. Simulation studies carried out on the developed MAS have shown that it has the potential to provide the optimum solutions. How MAS communication influences on decision making of the agents and getting the optimum solution is also demonstrated in this paper.