Comparative study on electricity transactions between multi-microgrid: A hybrid game theory-based peer-to-peer trading in heterogeneous building communities considering electric vehicles

The ever-growing penetration rate of distributed energy resources in the building sector, coupled with the ongoing improvements in electrification policies within the transportation industry, has posed challenges to cost-effectiveness and reliable operation of the utility grid. This study conducts a comparative study on electricity transactions between multi-microgrids comprising heterogeneous building communities considering electric vehicles (EVs), utilizing a hybrid game theory-based Peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading paradigm and a traditional Time-of-use (TOU) strategy under the Peer-to-grid (P2G) paradigm. Firstly, a hybrid game-based P2P framework, incorporating a non-cooperative game for determining internal electricity transactions and prices between multi-microgrid representing different building communities, and proposed a cooperative game for determining transactions and revenue distribution within the same microgrid's buildings. Then, the study investigates the effectiveness of this approach in enabling efficient and sustainable electricity exchange within microgrids. Through a comprehensive analysis, considering the dynamic electricity demand and techno-economic factors, the results demonstrates that the hybrid game theory-based P2P paradigm offers significant advantages over the traditional TOU strategy under the P2G paradigm. The proposed approach enables improved energy supply-demand balancing, increased energy autonomy, equitable revenue distribution, and reduced reliance on the utility grid. Meanwhile, utilizing EVs and flexible loads as energy flexibility assets further enhances the system's flexibility and responsiveness to demand fluctuations. The findings provide references for promoting energy efficiency and supporting the transition towards a more decentralized and resilient power system by fostering energy sharing and enhancing grid stability.