Local Smart Grid Research Articles

Energy democracy, public participation, and support for local energy system change in Canada

In the face of climate change and associated energy system change, there is a growing literature and more general recognition of the ‘four Ds’ (decarbonization, decentralization, digitalization, and democratization). Yet there has been very little quantitative work that analyzes public perceptions of these changes. Utilizing data from a Canada-wide, nationally representative survey (n = 941), this study conducted provincial and regional assessments to spatially explore the public's views of moves toward innovative local energy system change through the development of what we call Local Smart Grids (LSGs). Through descriptive statistics and t-tests, we sought to answer three main questions: i) To what extent does the public support energy democracy via new local energy systems? ii) What does the public desire in terms of participation? and iii) What motivates the public to participate? We find overall support for energy democracy across Canada, yet varied support among provinces and regions. Canadians seem to want to participate in moves toward energy democracy, although we found a strong preference for more passive participatory actions. Additionally, support and a desire to participate is predominantly motivated by environmental factors, including combating climate change, with community and social motivations playing a secondary role, followed by financial motivations. These findings, some of the first of their kind in the realm of energy democracy in Canada, provide useful insights relevant to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working on LSG implementation as well as others with an interest in socio-technical innovation and energy system change.

The “four Ds” and support for Local Smart Grids: analysis from national surveys in the UK and Canada

Abstract Local Smart Grids are emerging during the climate crisis, as governments and industry recognize the need to better integrate intermittent renewable energy, storage, transportation, heating, and smart technologies. Such projects can represent profound changes to the status quo of energy and citizen lifestyles. They are also being associated with the “four Ds,” whereby Local Smart Grids are decarbonizing, decentralizing, digitalizing, and potentially democratizing energy systems. Yet, due to their recent arrival, there is very little social scientific research that has aimed to better understand public views, expectations, and support for this change. We attempt to fill this important gap in the literature through the analysis of two nationally representative surveys in the UK (n = 3034) and Canada (n = 941). This analysis highlights within- and between-country trends, including how the variation in responses regarding the “four Ds,” demographic factors, and other variables may explain the differences we see in terms of support for energy system change in the UK and Canada. Our analysis also shows that there are common elements, including the importance of the decentralization, and especially the democratization of energy in shaping support. We hope that this study will help governments, industry, community groups, and local residents themselves in both countries come together to advance the kind of Local Smart Grids that address climate change and represent a supported, just energy transition.

Correction to: The “four Ds” and support for Local Smart Grids: analysis from national surveys in the UK and Canada

Correction to: The “four Ds” and support for Local Smart Grids: analysis from national surveys in the UK and Canada

The Consumer and the Power Grid: Evolution of Problems and Solutions

Mass electrification during the 20th century translates most of the household energy needs into the electrical domain. Electrical energy topics such as distribution, metering, and quality are mainly considered successfully resolved. However, the Power Demand Peak problem remains open in real practice. An outline of such a problem is presented along with the proposal for decentralization of load handling to the level of a Distributive Transformer. A simulation model based on the European Commission Energy Efficiency Status Report statistical data has shown considerable potential for lowering daily peak energy consumption. The analyzed approach uses a widely available framework and simplifies the Power Demand Peak problem through handling a home appliance which activation can be postponed without expressively affecting consumer comfort. Such a decentralized approach enables the connection between the traditional power grid and the local Smart Grid without significant additional investments, relying on the already available information infrastructure.

Trends in Locally Balanced Energy Systems without the Use of Fossil Fuels: A Review

In recent years, the idea of the operation of energy systems (power systems, heating systems) has changed significantly. This paper is an overview of locally balanced energy systems without the use of fossil fuels. The paper justifies the concept of local energy balancing in a new energy system that does not use fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and crude oil), based on European Union guidelines and formal documents as well as the literature on the subject. In this context, the issue of local energy self-sufficiency, utilizing renewable energy sources, as well as the concept of local smart grids based on innovative market mechanisms are raised. Attention is also paid to technical issues with regard to locally balanced energy systems, in particular photovoltaic sources and energy storage. Challenges related to the use of electrical protection in networks with many sources of energy are described. In such networks, the power flow is not in one direction only. Moreover, the selection of protections is problematic due to the distribution of short-circuit currents. Additionally, earth fault currents in such networks may be distorted, and this negatively affects the operation of residual current devices. The basic nomenclature describing locally balanced systems has been sorted out as well. Finally, possible future research paths in the field of creating locally balanced systems without the use of fossil fuels are presented.

Joint Virtual Energy Storage Modeling with Electric Vehicle Participation in Energy Local Area Smart Grid

In this research, the joint virtual energy storage modeling with electric vehicle participation in energy local area Smart Grid is considered. This article first constructs a virtual energy storage model and a joint virtual energy storage model for air conditioning and electric vehicles. Therefore, for the optimization problem of virtual energy storage power, a continuous rolling optimization algorithm to determine the feasible solution of the high-dimensional complex constraint optimization problem is proposed to solve the optimization problem. Finally, the analysis, for example, illustrates the economics of joint virtual energy storage in the Smart Grid. The results prove that air conditioning and electric vehicles have the ability to jointly participate in virtual energy storage, and the comparison proves that joint virtual energy storage can effectively improve the economics of electricity consumption.

High-resolution net load forecasting for micro-neighbourhoods with high penetration of renewable energy sources

Though extensive, the literature on electrical load forecasting lacks reports on studies focused on existing residential micro-neighbourhoods comprising small numbers of single-family houses equipped with solar panels. This paper provides a full description of an ANN-based model designed to predict short-term high-resolution (15-min intervals) micro-scale residential net load profiles. Since it seems especially relevant due to the specificity of local autocorrelations in load signal, in this paper we put stress on the systematic approach to feature selection in the context of lagged signal. We performed a case study of a real micro-neighbourhood comprising only 75 single-family houses. The obtained average prediction error was equivalent to 5.4 per cent of the maximal measured net load. The issues, i.e.: (1) the feasibility of micro-scale residential load forecasting taking into account renewable energy penetration, (2) the feasibility to predict net load with dense temporal resolution of 15 min, (3) the feature selection problem, (4) the proposed prosumption- and comparison-oriented prediction model key performance measure, could be of interest to engineers designing energy balancing systems for local smart grids.

AUTONOMOUS POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS WITH RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY AND SMART GRID

The use of modern devices and technologies in power supply systems will provide consumers with high-quality energy. Especially effective in this direction will be the construction of autonomous systems using renewable energy sources and local smart grids. The coordinated work of all elements of systems and optimal control of energy flows is solved by mathematical modeling methods.

Smart design rules for smart grids: analysing local smart grid development through an empirico-legal institutional lens

This article entails an innovative approach to smart grid technology implementation, as it connects governance research with legal analysis. We apply the empirico-legal ‘ILTIAD framework’, which combines Elinor Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework with institutional legal theory (ILT), to an empirical case study of a local smart grid project. Empirical data were collected in an exploratory, descriptive example study of a single case, focusing on the Action Situation and interactions towards establishing a local Smart Grid. The case was chosen because of its complexity, following the ‘logic of intensity sampling’. Data triangulation took place combining participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Through an exploratory case study, we showed how the ILTIAD framework can help reduce complexity in local decision-making processes on smart grid implementation, as it allows for analytical description and prescriptive design of local smart grid systems. In the analysis we addressed ownership arrangements and contracts and identified barriers and opportunities for realizing a local smart grid system. The design part includes a scenario which revealed the prescribed patterns of behaviour (liberties and abilities) and the consequential aspects that apply to each situation. Analysing and designing normative alignment ex ante to the planning and implementation of a smart grid system provides clarity to stakeholders about their current opportunities. For this reason, the ILTIAD framework can be used as a design guideline for establishing new and integrated smart grid projects.

Simulation-Based Approach for Studying the Balancing of Local Smart Grids with Electric Vehicle Batteries

Modern society is facing great challenges due to pollution and increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As part of solving these challenges, the use of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly increasing. However, increased dynamics have triggered problems in balancing energy supply and consumption demand in the power systems. The resulting uncertainty and unpredictability of energy production, consumption, and management of peak loads has caused an increase in costs for energy market actors. Therefore, the means for studying the balancing of local smart grids with EVs is a starting point for this paper. The main contribution is a simulation-based approach which was developed to enable the study of the balancing of local distribution grids with EV batteries in a cost-efficient manner. The simulation-based approach is applied to enable the execution of a distributed system with the simulation of a local distribution grid, including a number of charging stations and EVs. A simulation system has been constructed to support the simulation-based approach. The evaluation has been carried out by executing the scenario related to balancing local distribution grids with EV batteries in a step-by-step manner. The evaluation results indicate that the simulation-based approach is able to facilitate the evaluation of smart grid– and EV-related communication protocols, control algorithms for charging, and functionalities of local distribution grids as part of a complex, critical cyber-physical system. In addition, the simulation system is able to incorporate advanced methods for monitoring, controlling, tracking, and modeling behavior. The simulation model of the local distribution grid can be executed with the smart control of charging and discharging powers of the EVs according to the load situation in the local distribution grid. The resulting simulation system can be applied to the study of balancing local smart grids with EV batteries. Based on the evaluation results, it is estimated that the simulation-based approach can provide an essential, safe, and cost-efficient method for the evaluation of complex, critical cyber-physical systems, such as smart grids.

Smart Energy Systems for coherent 100% renewable energy and transport solutions

The hypothesis of this paper is that in order to identify least cost solutions of the integration of fluctuating renewable energy sources into current or future 100% renewable energy supplies one has to take a Smart Energy Systems approach. This paper outline why and how to do so. Traditionally, significant focus is put on the electricity sector alone to solve the renewable energy integration puzzle. Smart grid research traditionally focuses on ICT, smart meters, electricity storage technologies, and local (electric) smart grids. In contrast, the Smart Energy System focuses on merging the electricity, heating and transport sectors, in combination with various intra-hour, hourly, daily, seasonal and biannual storage options, to create the flexibility necessary to integrate large penetrations of fluctuating renewable energy. However, in this paper we present the development and design of coherent Smart Energy Systems as an integrated part of achieving future 100% renewable energy and transport solutions. The transition from fossil fuels towards the integration of more and more renewable energy requires rethinking and redesigning the energy system both on the generation and consumption side. To enable this, the Smart Energy System must have a number of appropriate infrastructures for the different sectors of the energy system, which are smart electricity grids, smart thermal grids (district heating and cooling), smart gas grids and other fuel infrastructures. It enables fluctuating renewable energy (such as wind, solar, wave power and low value heat sources) to utilise new sources of flexibility such as solid, gaseous, and liquid fuel storage, thermal storage and heat pumps and battery electric vehicles. Smart Energy Systems also enable a more sustainable and feasible use of bioenergy than the current types allow. It can potentially pave the way to a bioenergy-free 100% renewable energy and transport system.

Load Scheduling Strategies Based on Dynamic Price in Smart Grid

The combination of renewable energy and dynamic electricity pricing is an important feature of modern smart grid. Due to the dynamic electricity price and the intermittency nature of renewable energy, a local small-scaled smart grid (microgrid) needs to intelligently schedule various work loads to determine their start and end time in order to maximize the utilization of renewable energy and minimize the total electricity cost. Since the workload that can be shifted/scheduled is classified into interruptible load and non-interruptible load, in this paper we present two novel recursive scheduling strategies based on dynamic programming for both categories. The simulation experiment demonstrates that our strategies can effectively save energy expenditure and increase the proportion of renewable energy in overall energy consumption.

Modelling and optimization of a local smart grid for an agro-industrial site

A smart grid is defined where different elements are interconnected between them and with the public utility grid. The development of smart grids is considered a strategic goal at both national and international levels and has been funded by many research programs. Within the BEE (Building Energy Ecosystems) project, funded by the Piedmont Region under the European POR FESR 2007-13 scheme, the creation of an electricity smart grid at a local level in a small agroindustry was done. This industry is one of the so-called prosumer, that is both a producer and a consumer of energy. The energy production is done by means of solar photovoltaic and biomass. In this local smart grid, the elements were subdivided in two main groups: loads (process machineries in the case study) and generators (PV and biomass in the case study). The loads may be further subdivided into permanent loads, mandatory loads and shiftable loads. The objective of the smart grid is the minimization of the exchanges between the local grid and the public utility grid. Even though no financial savings occur, this is important for the community grid. The problem is therefore to find the conditions that let the net exported energy going to zero at each time step, so arriving close to a self-sufficient system by modifying the shiftable loads. In a first phase of the study, the consumers were studied and, according to some characteristics of the machineries employed and the production requirements, grouped into production lines that can or not be switched off for intervals of time in order to compensate the smart grid fluctuations. The smart grid balancing may be done on an instantaneous basis, or in a predictive way considering the future weather forecasts and the future production requirements. The demo site was equipped with measurement instrumentation, data acquisition tools and a user interface that may be used to visualize all the quantities that are measured but also to perform the actions suggested by the optimization strategy (start/stop machineries, organization of production, etc).

Modelling and optimization of a local smart grid for an agro-industrial site

Modelling and optimization of a local smart grid for an agro-industrial site

Leading the Smart Grid Revolution with UHV

With the rapid development of the grid, smart grid has become an undoubted trend. World's major power companies are searching for local smart grid technologies in transmission intelligence, substation intelligence and distribution intelligence and other areas. And China is leading our own smart grid revolution with world-class UHV power technologies, both in AC and DC. Chinese UHV have suffered countless hardships on our road. The development of UHV and smart grid technologies in China and their position in the world prove that the UHV technologies line with China's national conditions. It is the road we must follow in the development of smart grid in China.