The development of micro-girds which combine several localized systems into a small power network has drawn recent attention. They can operate either as a
self-contained energy network or they can be integrated into a centralized power grid. A variety of technologies have been studied to use solar energy systems as a form of micro-grid to enhance the reliability and performance of the system. However, the operation of these systems is not without problems, and intermittency of the energy from the sun is the major one. This thesis proposes a microcontroller-based solar energy management system which combines battery management and storage technology to address this issue. This approach uses an energy system with a solar panel array, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) unit, a battery management system, and a bidirectional inverter which is connected to the electric utility grid. Off-peak energy management also is embedded in the system to further increase the economic benefits.
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