Renewable Flex DC Building-Scale Energy Systems

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Unprecedented expansion of native direct current (DC) powered equipment (computers, telecoms, data centers, consumer electronics) has increased global electricity consumption by 27% over the past decade. In US/Canada, over 800 TWh of DC energy is consumed every year, producing an associated 550 tons of harmful carbon emissions. DC electricity usage is projected to increase even further with the addition of 20 million DC-powered electric vehicles (EV) by 2020, putting a significant burden on a century-old power infrastructure.******Since power utilities deliver alternating current (AC) rather than DC, the conversion process used to supply the existing and forthcoming DC loads is very inefficient. This program addresses flexible DC loading/generation within buildings by using a novel building-scale energy architecture. The short-term objective is to enable DC infrastructure within buildings to incorporate DC renewable generation and storage technologies (e.g. PV solar, batteries, and fuel cells) and to supply the increasing amount of DC powered equipment directly (phasing out AC). The innovative features of this program reside in the significant efficiency gain and the cost reduction opportunity provided by the novel power conversion architecture and topologies. The elimination of conversion stages (DC/AC and AC/DC) at the generation and load anticipates a reduction in emission and the maximization building efficiency.******Advances in this area will enhance the storage and delivery of power to both consumers and utility providers. From the end user perspective, the building's power architecture will accommodate maximum DC power extraction (solar, batteries, fuel cells, etc.) and the next generation of high efficiency DC powering for lightning (LED), EV chargers, HVAC/cooling (variable speed), etc. From the utility perspective, the building-scale energy system will have a perfect energy consumer profile. It will provide a predictable/reliable single-point bidirectional interface, with reactive power injection, harmonic cancellation, and storage for peak shaving/backup. These features will produce remarkable benefits for the power utility.******The long-term objective is to target R&D and final implementation of a flexible, modular power converters that concentrates on definitive technical challenges associated with topological flexibility, scalability, power sharing, and control for coordinated operation for DC infrastructure. Additional objectives are to provide HQP training in renewable power and develop IP for Canadian industries. Anticipating the high demand for engineers in renewable power, the program will deliver graduates with strong R&D skills for Canada. The research program fits into the government's strategy on science and technology by helping to accelerate the deployment of renewable power and meets NSERC's objectives by bringing originality and innovation.**