Distributed, Renewable, and Mobile Resources

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/107472

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Methodologies for Selection of Optimal Sites for Renewable Energy Under a Diverse Set of Constraints and Objectives
(2024-01-03) Sen, Arunabha; Sumnicht, Christopher; Choudhuri, Sandipan; Adeniye, Suli; Sen, Amit B.
In this paper, we present methodologies for optimal site selection for renewable energy sites under a different set of constraints and objectives. We consider two different models for the site-selection problem - coarse-grained and fine-grained, and analyze them to find solutions. We consider multiple different ways to measure the benefits of setting up a site. We provide approximation algorithms with a guaranteed performance bound for two different benefit metrics with the coarse-grained model. For the fine-grained model, we provide a technique utilizing Integer Linear Program to find the optimal solution. We present the results of our extensive experimentation with synthetic data generated from sparsely available real data from solar farms in Arizona.
Understanding Derived Demand for Transportation to Support Electric Vehicle Recharging After Earthquake Events
(2024-01-03) Cheng, Boyu; Liu, Dahui; Nozick, Linda
This paper develops a probabilistic assessment of the derived demand for transportation to support the recharging of electric vehicles after an earthquake in Los Angeles. This analysis is developed using 4,212 risk-adjusted damage scenarios based on 351 earthquake scenarios that represent the seismic hazard in Los Angeles. By analyzing each of these damage scenarios via a dc load flow model at the bus-level, we calculate the unserved demand in each damage scenario and evaluate the reduction in unserved demand when electric vehicles are allowed to be charged from other operational substations (via aggregation of demand to the substation level). Our findings indicate that by 2030, we can expect that about 3% of unserved electric power demand during the recovery process after an earthquake will be satisfied via electric vehicles utilizing power from recharging stations not supported by their home substations. The average and median distance traveled are estimated to be 8.6 km and 6.8 km, respectively. Furthermore, 95% of all trips motivated in this manner are less than 24.1 km in length; suggesting that many of the trips are rather short. Hence, this analysis suggests that electric vehicles can contribute to the post-earthquake resilience of the electric power system via flexibility in the selection of recharging locations.
Distributed Load Dumps: An Economical and Equitable Approach for Distribution Grid Voltage Regulation
(2024-01-03) Morgenstern, Carl
Distributed energy resource (DER), such as rooftop photovoltaics (PV), provide clean energy to the grid and have the potential to improve the grid efficiency. On the other hand, DER left unregulated can cause over-voltages and dangerous levels of reverse power flow. This paper proposes resistive load dumps to be placed at the low-voltage nodes of distribution circuits to equitably regulate the voltage and reverse current. The low-cost resistive devices require limited knowledge of the distribution system and are operated using local measurements, which minimizes the overall cost of the system. The basic profit models developed in this paper suggest curtailing real power to regulate voltage with load dumps could be economical. Local measurement based strategies are introduced to operate the load dumps, and placement and sizing heuristics are proposed when there is limited distribution circuit knowledge. The load dumps are shown to eliminate over 99% of the over-voltages by curtailing only 5% of the PV generation during a simulated year of operation on a synthetic distribution circuit model.
An Enhanced Short-term Forecasting of Wind Generating Resources based on Edge Computing in Jeju Carbon-Free Islands
(2024-01-03) Hur, Jin; Ahn, Eunji
As the Internet-of-Things makes various types of sensing possible, edge computing has been developed to collect, store, and analyze vast amounts of data. It is becoming a great resource for future industries because unlike in cloud systems, large amounts of data can be processed efficiently and immediately near the source. After comparing the characteristics of cloud computing and edge computing techniques, SCADA systems in various countries were analyzed. Lastly, in this study, we propose an SLA architecture for wind power output forecast which uses data collected from edge computing. To validate the proposed method, we analyzed empirical data obtained from Korea wind farm based on ARIMAX and Monte-Carlo simulations and found that the NMAE (Normalized MAE) value for the forecasting period was about 2%. Therefore, this study focuses on increasing the flexibility of the distribution grid and look forward to deploying this architecture to energy management systems in South Korea.
Optimizing Dual-Axis Solar Panel Operation in an Agrivoltaic System and Implications for Power Systems
(2024-01-03) Stuhlmacher, Anna; Mathieu, Johanna; Seiler, Peter
The concept of agrivoltaics, or co-locating photovoltaic panels and crops, is viewed as a potential solution to competing land demands for food and energy production. In this paper, we propose an optimal dual-axis photovoltaic panel formulation that adjusts the panel position to maximize power generation subject to crop requirements. Through convex relaxations and shading factor approximations, we reformulate the problem as a convex second-order cone program and solve for the panel position adjustments away from the sun-tracking trajectory. We demonstrate our approach in a case study by comparing our approach with an approach that maximizes solar power capture and a scenario in which there are only crops. We found that we are able to successfully adjust the panel position while accounting for the trade-offs between the photovoltaic panels’ energy production and the crop health. Additionally, optimizing the operation of an agrivoltaic system allows us to better understand agrivoltaic systems as a resource connected to the power grid.
On Communication-Assisted Line Protection for Multi-Inverter Microgrids
(2024-01-03) Cisneros Saldana, Jorge; Begovic, Miroslav M.
Protection is critical in maintaining grid stability and reliability. Microgrids, which are small-scale power systems that can operate autonomously or while connected to the main grid, pose unique challenges for protection schemes. Traditional protection methods, such as time-delayed overcurrent relays, reclosers, and fuse-based protection may not be sufficient to detect faults in microgrids. This paper discusses the differences in protection requirements between autonomous and grid-connected microgrids, a comparison of overcurrent and differential protection schemes, and the advancements in microgrid communication, cybersecurity, standards, and test beds. A benchmark 4-bus microgrid system is implemented in distribution voltage ratings, with simulation results demonstrating the effectiveness of synchrophasor-based relays in detecting faults. Showing the feasibility of differential protection over overcurrent protection. Paper is concluding with future work needed to enhance the novel protection concepts.
Assessing the Impacts of Power Outage on Community Overheating Risk during Extreme Heatwaves
(2024-01-03) Rodriguez-Garcia, Luis; Heleno, Miguel; Parvania, Masood
Communities worldwide are experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves, where the increased use of energy-intensive cooling systems is putting additional pressure on the power system. While power utility companies reduce this overload by applying controlled outages, this disruption inequitably impacts communities dependent on the electricity supply to unbearable indoor temperatures during extreme weather. To assess the relationship between power outage and overheating risk, this paper develops a framework to evaluate the community overheating risk when exposed to rotating outages during heat waves. The framework is based on a set of metrics that initially evaluates the overheating risk at a household level, which is aggregated to the power distribution system nodes and then scored to quantify the overall feeder overheating inequity based on a thermal simulation of the indoor temperature when a power outage occurs during a heat wave. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to assess the impact of distributed energy resources on the community vulnerability and overheating risk inequity. The proposed framework is tested on the IEEE 33-node test system, where it succeeds in identifying highly vulnerable areas where planning and operational decisions may enhance community resilience to heat waves.
Responsive District Heating for a Sustainable Power Grid
(2024-01-03) Zou, Robin; Robson, Sarah; Mckahn, Denise; Cardell, Judith
The electrification of energy use for building heating-cooling and transportation sectors increases stress on an already strained electric power grid. Shifting energy end-use to electricity presupposes that electricity generation is relatively clean in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the legacy power system and significant operational constraints on the power grid though, the majority of electricity generation is now, and will continue for many years, to be predominantly powered from fossil fuel combustion. The continuing need to decrease carbon and other GHGs raises the need to find clean energy sources outside of the electric power grid. One clean energy technology for building heating and cooling is geothermal energy, a well-proven and mature technology option, especially for district heating applications. With the main energy source being clean and renewable, geothermal energy decreases direct combustion of fossil fuels, and so contributes significantly to reducing GHGs from building energy needs. With the goals of sustainability and reduced emissions, serving building heating and cooling with geothermal systems rather than pushing for electrification will reduce the burden on the power grid and have a high probability of decreasing pollutant emissions from building energy demands. This paper introduces a geothermal energy system for Smith College, in Northampton MA, USA, that includes geothermal heat exchangers, thermal energy storage and heat pumps. Elements of the system rely on electricity for operation, making responsive demand for both thermal energy and for electrical use integral to the system design. The proposed district heating system is designed to decrease GHG emissions and support the College goal to minimize operations costs.
Introduction to the Minitrack on Distributed, Renewable, and Mobile Resources
(2024-01-03) Cardell, Judith; Blumsack, Seth

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