BIM- and GIS-Based Residential Microgrid Modelling: Possibilities, Benefits, and Applications

Abstract

An increase in the share of solar energy in the grid may unestablish the grid. To overcome the issues of grid instability, specifically in remote areas, the building information modeling (BIM) and geographical information system (GIS) based microgrid planning based on data can be effectively used. The integration of BIM and GIS information systems for microgrid planning is appealing due to its potential benefits, such as it decreases the microgrid planning time and cost. Building BIM- and GIS-based integrated approach for microgrid planning are advantageous over the traditional multi-platform based 2D-CAD modeling process due to increased automation and digitization of the modeling process. This chapter provides consolidated details of the BIM- and GIS-based integrated microgrid pre-construction planning, its applications for regional-level studies, and its advantages over the conventional approach. BIM information system provides building-level electrical data and GIS integrates the building-level data for city-level microgrid planning studies. BIM-based add-in tools is ideal for residential-level bottom-up microgrid planning projects than the GIS-based approach. BIM offers minute level details of the electrical network comparatively easy. By this integrated method, infrastructure data and microgrid optimization techniques are processed simultaneously in a platform which is not feasible in the conventional approach. Further research is required to develop matured applications for 80BIM- and GIS-based microgrid planning by combining sophisticated algorithms and modeling standardization to be implemented by government agencies.