Microgrid Economy Through Optimal Design

Nowadays fossil fuels are depleting and load demand is increasing rapidly. As a result, cost of power generation from conventional resources is increasing. On the other hand the power production cost from renewable resources like wind and solar energy is decreasing. The power generated from the renewable sources is now in marketable range. This increases the scope of micro grid and distributed generation. Power from only renewable resources is not reliable due to uncertainty in environmental conditions. It has to be coordinated with any of the other form of reliable power sources. The installment cost of solar and wind generation plants are very high. But, the maintenance and running costs are low. Installment cost of non-renewable energy source generation plants is low compared to renewable energy sources generation. But, the maintenance and running costs are high

Microgrid Economy Through Optimal Design

Nowadays fossil fuels are depleting and load demand is increasing rapidly. As a result, cost of power generation from conventional resources is increasing. On the other hand the power production cost from renewable resources like wind and solar energy is decreasing. The power generated from the renewable sources is now in marketable range. This increases the scope of micro grid and distributed generation. Power from only renewable resources is not reliable due to uncertainty in environmental conditions. It has to be coordinated with any of the other form of reliable power sources. The installment cost of solar and wind generation plants are very high. But, the maintenance and running costs are low. Installment cost of non-renewable energy source generation plants is low compared to renewable energy sources generation. But, the maintenance and running costs are high

Demand side management studies on distributed energy resources: A survey

The number of distributed environmentally friendly energy sources and generators necessitates new operating methods and a power network board to preserve or even increase the efficiency and quality of the power supply. Similarly, the growth of matriculates promotes the formation of new institutional systems, in which power and power exchanges become increasingly essential. Because of how an inactive entity traditionally organizes distribution systems, the DG’s connection inevitably changes the system’s qualifications to which it is connected. As a consequence of the Distributed Generation, this presumption is currently legal and non-existent. This article glides on demand side management and analysis on distributed energy resources. Investigation of DSM along with zonal wise classification has been carried out in this survey. Its merits and applications are also presented.Universidad Tecnológica de Bolíva

Optimal sizing of a hybrid grid-connected photovoltaic and wind power system

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) have been widely identified as an efficient mechanism to generate electrical power based on renewable energy sources (RES). This kind of energy generation systems are based on the combination of one or more RES allowing to complement the weaknesses of one with strengths of another and, therefore, reducing installation costs with an optimized installation. To do so, optimization methodologies are a trendy mechanism because they allow attaining optimal solutions given a certain set of input parameters and variables. This work is focused on the optimal sizing of hybrid grid-connected photovoltaic-wind power systems from real hourly wind and solar irradiation data and electricity demand from a certain location. The proposed methodology is capable of finding the sizing that leads to a minimum life cycle cost of the system while matching the electricity supply with the local demand. In the present article, the methodology is tested by means of a case study in which the actual hourly electricity retail and market prices have been implemented to obtain realistic estimations of life cycle costs and benefits. A sensitivity analysis that allows detecting to which variables the system is more sensitive has also been performed. Results presented show that the model responds well to changes in the input parameters and variables while providing trustworthy sizing solutions. According to these results, a grid-connected HRES consisting of photovoltaic (PV) and wind power technologies would be economically profitable in the studied rural township in the Mediterranean climate region of central Catalonia (Spain), being the system paid off after 18 years of operation out of 25 years of system lifetime. Although the annual costs of the system are notably lower compared with the cost of electricity purchase, which is the current alternative, a significant upfront investment of over $10 M - roughly two thirds of total system lifetime cost - would be required to install such system. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Postprint (author's final draft

State-of-the-Art Renewable Energy in Korea

Nowadays, renewable energy plays an important role in our daily lives. This Special Issue addresses the current trend in the use of renewable energy in South Korea. The first aspect is a renewable-based power system, where both main and ancillary supplies are sourced from renewable energies; the second aspect is a distribution network for renewable energy; and the last aspect is a nanogrid network technology. Renewable energy requires many innovations over existing power infrastructure and regulation. These articles show the changing trend in various sectors in Korea

Reliability Studies of Distribution Systems Integrated with Energy Storage

The integration of distributed generations (DGs) - renewable DGs, in particular- into distribution networks is gradually increasing, driven by environmental concerns and technological advancements. However, the intermittency and the variability of these resources adversely affect the optimal operation and reliability of the power distribution system. Energy storage systems (ESSs) are perceived as potential solutions to address system reliability issues and to enhance renewable energy utilization. The reliability contribution of the ESS depends on the ownership of these resources, market structure, and the regulatory framework. This along with the technical characteristics and the component unavailability of ESS significantly affect the reliability value of ESS to an active distribution system. It is, therefore, necessary to develop methodologies to conduct the reliability assessment of ESS integrated modern distribution systems incorporating above-mentioned factors. This thesis presents a novel reliability model of ESS that incorporates different scenarios of ownership, market/regulatory structures, and the ESS technical and failure characteristics. A new methodology to integrate the developed ESS reliability model with the intermittent DGs and the time-dependent loads is also presented. The reliability value of ESS in distribution grid capacity enhancement, effective utilization of renewable energy, mitigations of outages, and managing the financial risk of utilities under quality regulations are quantified. The methodologies introduced in this thesis will be useful to assess the market mechanism, policy and regulatory implications regarding ESS in future distribution system planning and operation. Another important aspect of a modern distribution system is the increased reliability needs of customers, especially with the growing use of sensitive process/equipment. The financial losses of customers due to industrial process disruption or malfunction of these equipment because of short duration (voltage sag and momentary interruption) and long duration (sustained interruption) reliability events could be substantial. It is, therefore, necessary to consider these short duration reliability events in the reliability studies. This thesis introduces a novel approach for the integrated modeling of the short and long duration reliability events caused by the random failures. Furthermore, the active management of distribution systems with ESS, DG, and microgrid has the potential to mitigate different reliability events. Appropriate models are needed to explore their contribution and to assist the utilities and system planners in reliability based system upgrades. New probabilistic models are developed in this thesis to assess the role of ESS together with DG and microgrid in mitigating the adverse impact of different reliability events. The developed methodologies can easily incorporate the complex protection settings, alternate supplies configurations, and the presence of distributed energy resources/microgrids in the context of modern distribution systems. The ongoing changes in modern distribution systems are creating an enormous paradigm shift in infrastructure planning, grid operations, utility business models, and regulatory policies. In this context, the proposed methodologies and the research findings presented in this thesis should be useful to devise the appropriate market mechanisms and regulatory policies and to carry out the system upgrades considering the reliability needs of customers in modern distribution systems

Energy Management of Distributed Generation Systems

The book contains 10 chapters, and it is divided into four sections. The first section includes three chapters, providing an overview of Energy Management of Distributed Systems. It outlines typical concepts, such as Demand-Side Management, Demand Response, Distributed, and Hierarchical Control for Smart Micro-Grids. The second section contains three chapters and presents different control algorithms, software architectures, and simulation tools dedicated to Energy Management Systems. In the third section, the importance and the role of energy storage technology in a Distribution System, describing and comparing different types of energy storage systems, is shown. The fourth section shows how to identify and address potential threats for a Home Energy Management System. Finally, the fifth section discusses about Economical Optimization of Operational Cost for Micro-Grids, pointing out the effect of renewable energy sources, active loads, and energy storage systems on economic operation

Solar electrification to improve power access in urban areas in developing countries at no additional cost : case study of Nigeria

O acesso à eletricidade está associado à melhoria dos meios de subsistência, educação, saúde, crescimento económico e redução geral da pobreza. A grande maioria das pessoas que vivem sem, ou com acesso não fiável, a energia elétrica encontra-se na África subsaariana e sudeste asiático. Apesar de ser a maior economia de África, a Nigéria sofre de problemas graves de cortes frequentes de energia, obrigando muitos residentes a procurar opções de auto-geração, sobretudo geradores a diesel, com custos de investimento inicial relativamente baixo, mas que trazem riscos à saúde e ao meio ambiente. Uma alternativa viável são os sistemas fotovoltaicos; no entanto, o investimento inicial é muito maior em comparação com os geradores a diesel, criando uma barreira para muitos nigerianos. A primeira parte desta tese explora a opção de geração de eletricidade solar em ambiente urbano, mais limpa e mais acessível, aumentando o acesso fiável a eletricidade e reduzindo, ou eliminando, o uso de geradores a diesel. Propõe-se um caminho para a implementação em larga escala de sistemas fotovoltaicos domésticos em ambiente urbano, com o custo coberto pela poupança de combustível, possibilitado por uma política eficaz que melhora o acesso a opções de financiamento. Aproveitando dados reais de uma campanha de monitorização de consumo de eletricidade em Lagos, o centro comercial da Nigéria, os resultados mostram uma oportunidade para reduzir ou eliminar o uso de geradores a diesel aplicando a poupança de custos de combustível para financiar sistemas fotovoltaicos. A segunda parte desta tese trata do setor comercial, que tem sido significativamente prejudicado pela pouca disponibilidade de eletricidade confiável. Quase metade das empresas na Nigéria identificou a eletricidade como um grande obstáculo, com mais de um quarto delas apresentando a eletricidade como maior obstáculo. As perdas comerciais devido a interrupções elétricas são significativas, com perdas médias estimadas de cerca de 16% das vendas anuais. A falta de acesso a eletricidade confiável é um dos maiores desafios para o crescimento económico na Nigéria. É proposto um meio de fornecer energia ao setor comercial através de eletrificação solar por enxame (swarm). É descrita uma estrutura conceitual para o uso de uma rede distribuída composta de sistemas fotovoltaicos domésticos ligados à rede como uma opção viável para fornecer ao setor comercial um acesso mais confiável à eletricidade. Finalmente, são abordadas as implicações de política para o setor comercial com mais opções de eletrificação, implicações que incluem um forte impacto económico e a expansão e criação de novas indústrias.Access to electricity has been linked to improved livelihood, education, health, economic growth, and overall poverty reduction. The vast majority of people living without electricity or unreliable electricity access are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Despite being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria suffers from severe power outages, forcing many residents to seek self-generation options. By far, the most adopted option has been diesel generators that have a relatively low initial investment cost but carry health and environmental risks. A viable alternative is solar photovoltaic systems; however, the initial investment is much higher compared to diesel generators, creating a barrier for many Nigerians. Part one of this thesis addresses making cleaner electricity generation through solar PV systems more attainable, increasing access to more reliable electricity, and reducing or eliminating the use of diesel generators. It proposes a pathway for securing residential solar PV systems with the cost covered through fuel savings and enabled by an effective policy that improves access to financing options. Leveraging real data from a monitoring campaign in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, results show an opportunity to reduce or eliminate the use of diesel generators by applying fuel cost savings to finance solar PV systems. The second part of this thesis addresses Nigeria's commercial sector, which has been significantly hampered due to the poor availability of reliable electricity. Nearly half of the firms doing business in Nigeria have identified electricity as a major constraint, with over a quarter of them listing electricity as their biggest obstacle. The business losses due to electrical outages are significant, with losses averaging about 16% of annual sales. The lack of access to reliable electricity is one of the biggest challenges to economic growth in Nigeria. A means of powering the commercial sector in Nigeria using urban swarm electrification is proposed. This thesis outlines a conceptual framework for using a distributed network made up of grid-connected home solar PV systems as a viable option for providing the commercial sector with more reliable access to electricity. It further addresses the policy implications for the commercial sector with the enablement of more electrification options, implications that include strong economic impact, and the expansion and creation of new industries

スマートハウスにおける異なるエネルギーシステムの比較と経済的最適化に関する研究

In recent years, with the improvement of people\u27s living standards and the popularization of smart appliances, household power consumption shows an upward trend. Reasonable energy management combined with efficient and energy-saving equipment is an effective way to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction in the household sector. At present, the research and promotion of smart house in Japan are gradually increasing, and the government has also implemented relevant incentive policies. Based on the characteristics and advantages of smart house, this study analyzes and compares the economy and environment of different energy systems in smart house, and optimizes the economy from the three levels of users, equipment, and power market. It is hoped that this study can provide new ideas for the promotion of smart home and provide theoretical reference for the practical application of smart home.北九州市立大