GRID INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

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The increased awareness for environmental preservation and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has caused a higher utilization of distributed renewable energy sources. As a result, the electrical grid is changing from utilizing large, remote fossil-fuel based generators to smaller, locally-embedded renewable energy generators. Deregulation has caused increased competition within the industry and a desire for improved efficiency. Furthermore, with the convergence of different technologies such as power systems, power electronics, information technology, communication and sensors, the grid can now be transformed into a truly smart grid capable of operating in a highly coordinated manner through intelligent management systems to realize its full potential. My research program concentrates on system studies to demonstrate the opportunities and expose the weaknesses in the smart grid implementation. The problems that will be studied relate to: - Two-way power flow in the feeders and its impact on critical grid components such as transformers which will be subjected to frequent energizing/de-energizing cycles. This will lead to reduced equipment life-span due to voltage stresses and other power quality issues (such as harmonic generation). - Smart grid components i.e. fault current limiters, transfer switches and other protection equipment needed to coordinate the integration of both legacy and modern-age equipment. - Renewable energy integration issues which will need advanced converters and their controllers to feed in power from a variable voltage/frequency into a grid that is operating at a fixed voltage/frequency. Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) issues specially taking advantage of storage components and Time-of-Use controllers. Although transformation of the legacy grid towards the new smart grid has already begun, its full implementation may take decades before reaching a desired level of operational flexibility, security and efficiency. This research will be useful for power utilities, consultants and manufacturers of electrical equipment. It will benefit the power system planners, operators and commissioning members of utilities. This research will provide ample opportunities for the training of HQP and allow university collaboration with local distribution companies (LDCs), consultants and manufacturers. The intellectual property generated will provide deeper insight into smart grid behavior and operation. There is a global shortage of HQP in this field. The next decade will see huge investments in infrastructure for the renewal of the aging legacy grid components.