Solar-dc Microgrid for Indian Homes: A Transforming Power Scenario
TL;DR: A recent study conducted by the Council for Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) across six states (Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha) found that about 50% of the households had no electricity despite having a grid connection as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: It is well established that access to energy is closely linked with socioeconomic development. India houses the largest share of the world's population deprived of electricity with about 237 million people lacking access (International Energy Agency). At the same time, in India, many households that do have access to electricity lack an uninterrupted and quality power supply. A recent study conducted by the Council for Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) across six states (Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha), found that about 50% of the households had no electricity despite having a grid connection. This indicates that there is an immediate need to address the quality, affordability, and reliability of the power supply in addition to extending the grid footprint.
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TL;DR: The state-of-the-art dc microgrid technology that covers ac interfaces, architectures, possible grounding schemes, power quality issues, and communication systems is presented.
Abstract: To meet the fast-growing energy demand and, at the same time, tackle environmental concerns resulting from conventional energy sources, renewable energy sources are getting integrated in power networks to ensure reliable and affordable energy for the public and industrial sectors However, the integration of renewable energy in the ageing electrical grids can result in new risks/challenges, such as security of supply, base load energy capacity, seasonal effects, and so on Recent research and development in microgrids have proved that microgrids, which are fueled by renewable energy sources and managed by smart grids (use of smart sensors and smart energy management system), can offer higher reliability and more efficient energy systems in a cost-effective manner Further improvement in the reliability and efficiency of electrical grids can be achieved by utilizing dc distribution in microgrid systems DC microgrid is an attractive technology in the modern electrical grid system because of its natural interface with renewable energy sources, electric loads, and energy storage systems In the recent past, an increase in research work has been observed in the area of dc microgrid, which brings this technology closer to practical implementation This paper presents the state-of-the-art dc microgrid technology that covers ac interfaces, architectures, possible grounding schemes, power quality issues, and communication systems The advantages of dc grids can be harvested in many applications to improve their reliability and efficiency This paper also discusses benefits and challenges of using dc grid systems in several applications This paper highlights the urgent need of standardizations for dc microgrid technology and presents recent updates in this area
505 citations
Cites background from "Solar-dc Microgrid for Indian Homes..."
...Due to the fast expansion of internet infrastructure in the fast developing countries such as India and China in the recent years, it is expected that the power consumption of data center will increase from 10 MW to 50 MW....
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...Recently, several pilot studies have further validated these advantages and successfully implemented different DC microgrid systems such as in data centers and residential applications [7]–[9], [41]....
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...From 2004 to 2005, he served as a Lecturer with the Electrical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, India....
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...M’12) received the M.Tech. degree in power system engineering from IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, India, in 2004, and the Ph.D. degree in power electronics engineering from the University of Nottingham, U.K., in 2011....
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...Recently 48V DC unipolar systems have been implemented with the integration of PV panel in microgrids for off-grid houses in rural areas of India [41]....
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TL;DR: The challenges of DC microgrid protection are investigated from various aspects including, dc fault current characteristics, ground systems, fault detection methods, protective devices, and fault location methods.
Abstract: DC microgrids have attracted significant attention over the last decade in both academia and industry. DC microgrids have demonstrated superiority over AC microgrids with respect to reliability, efficiency, control simplicity, integration of renewable energy sources, and connection of dc loads. Despite these numerous advantages, designing and implementing an appropriate protection system for dc microgrids remains a significant challenge. The challenge stems from the rapid rise of dc fault current which must be extinguished in the absence of naturally occurring zero crossings, potentially leading to sustained arcs. In this paper, the challenges of DC microgrid protection are investigated from various aspects including, dc fault current characteristics, ground systems, fault detection methods, protective devices, and fault location methods. In each part, a comprehensive review has been carried out. Finally, future trends in the protection of DC microgrids are briefly discussed.
188 citations
Cites background from "Solar-dc Microgrid for Indian Homes..."
...Examples of the growth and proliferation of DC include the use of multiterminal High Voltage DC (HVDC) distribution systems to integrate renewables into electrical utility grids in Europe and China [3],[4] mobile transportation systems with integrated power and energy management applied to ships, aircraft and vehicles [5],[6] and electrification of remote areas through local DC microgrids that incorporate PV and battery energy storage into community and home electrical systems [7],[8]....
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TL;DR: Different energy management strategies have been presented as energy management plays very important role in optimizing the size and rating of energy storage system and their maximum utilization.
Abstract: Due to inherent advantages of DC system over AC system such as compatibility with renewable energy sources, storage devices and modern loads, Direct Current Microgrid (DCMG) has been one of the key research areas from last few years. The power and energy management in the DCMG system has been a challenge for the researchers. MG structure and control strategies are the integrated part of the power and energy management system. This paper covers all the aspects of the control of DCMG, whether it is DC bus voltage, power or energy related. Different MG Structures with their comparative analysis has been given in this paper. Various control schemes: Basic control schemes like centralized, decentralized and distributed control and multilevel control scheme such as hierarchal control has been discussed. The Power management in grid-connected, Islanded mode and transition mode has been presented. Different energy management strategies have been presented as energy management plays very important role in optimizing the size and rating of energy storage system and their maximum utilization. The energy management of a battery and super capacitor based HESS in all configurations has also been discussed and finally, future trends in further research are presented.
151 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a framework for optimal planning and design of low-power lowvoltage dc micro-grids for minimum upfront cost, based on region-specific irradiance and temperature profiles; constraints in storage and distributions; distribution loss analysis; and optimum component sizing (storage, conductor, and PV panel) requirements.
Abstract: Low-voltage, low-power solar photovoltaic (PV) based dc microgrids are becoming very popular in nonelectrified regions of developing countries due to lower upfront costs compared to utility grid alternatives and limited power needs of rural occupants The optimal planning of distribution architecture along with sizing of various system components such as solar panels, batteries, and distribution conductors is essential for minimizing the system cost and enhance its utilization In this paper, we develop a framework for optimal planning and design of low-power low-voltage dc microgrids for minimum upfront cost The analysis is based on region-specific irradiance and temperature profiles; constraints in storage and distributions; distribution loss analysis; and optimum component sizing (storage, conductor, and PV panel) requirements based upon an energy balance model for a 24-h operation We further analyze the merits of tailoring distribution architecture for maximizing the system utility in the planning of future microgrid deployments
73 citations
Cites background from "Solar-dc Microgrid for Indian Homes..."
...These integrated systems also have a better levelized cost of electricity compared to standalone systems as it takes advantage of usage diversity at a village scale [5]....
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...Therefore, the focus for rural electrification has been shifted to off-grid electrification through low-cost solar DC microgrids [5], [6], [11]....
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TL;DR: Different methods of primary control for current and voltage regulation, secondary control for error-correction in voltage and current, power sharing in a microgrid and microgrid clusters and tertiary control for power and energy management with a primary focus on minimal power loss and operational cost in a DC microgrid system are reviewed in-depth.
Abstract: This work presents an extensive review of hierarchical control strategies that provide effective and robust control for a DC microgrid. DC microgrid is an efficient, scalable and reliable solution for electrification in remote areas and needs a reliable control scheme such as hierarchical control. The hierarchical control strategy is divided into three layers namely primary, secondary and tertiary based on their functionality. In this study, different methods of primary control for current and voltage regulation, secondary control for error-correction in voltage and current, power sharing in a microgrid and microgrid clusters and tertiary control for power and energy management with a primary focus on minimal power loss and operational cost in a DC microgrid system are reviewed in-depth. Along with this, the advantages and limitations of various control structures like centralised, decentralised, distributed are discussed in this study. After a comparative study of all control strategies, the optimum control schemes from the author's point of view are also presented.
68 citations
References
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01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The World Energy Outlook 2015 (WEO-2015) as mentioned in this paper presents updated projections for the evolution of the global energy system to 2040, based on the latest data and market developments, as well as detailed insights on the prospects for fossil fuels, renewables, the power sector and energy efficiency.
Abstract: The precipitous fall in oil prices, continued geopolitical instability and the ongoing global climate negotiations are witness to the dynamic nature of energy markets. In a time of so much uncertainty, understanding the implications of the shifting energy landscape for economic and environmental goals and for energy security is vital. The World Energy Outlook 2015 (WEO-2015) will present updated projections for the evolution of the global energy system to 2040, based on the latest data and market developments, as well as detailed insights on the prospects for fossil fuels, renewables, the power sector and energy efficiency and analysis on trends in CO2 emissions and fossil-fuel and renewable energy subsidies.
In addition, the WEO-2015 covers in-depth analysis on several topical issues:
A lower oil price future? The decline in oil prices and changed market conditions has prompted a broad debate over how and when the oil market will re-balance. This analysis will examine the implications for markets, policies, investment, the fuel mix and emissions if oil prices stay lower for longer.
India’s energy outlook: How India’s energy sector develops over the coming decades will have profound implications both for the country’s own prospects and for the global energy system as a whole. With new impetus behind efforts to upgrade the country’s energy supply, this comprehensive, in-depth analysis will assess the multiple challenges and opportunities facing India as it develops the resources and infrastructure to meet rapidly rising energy demand.
Renewables and energy efficiency: In the run-up to COP21, the Outlook will provide a report on the competitive position of fast-growing renewable energy technologies in different markets, how this evolves and what implications this might have for policy; the analysis also tracks for the first time the coverage of energy use by efficiency policies around the world and the ways in which product design, recycling and reuse (“material efficiency”) can contribute to energy savings.
Unconventional gas: In addition to an update on the opportunities and challenges that face the development of unconventional gas globally, analysis will focus on the prospects for unconventional gas in China and how this might affect China’s energy outlook as well as regional and global balances.
846 citations
07 Jun 2015
TL;DR: In this article, an efficient and affordable solar DC solution for powering off-grid homes is presented. But, the proposed solution is not suitable for the use of the generated PV power efficiently.
Abstract: India is a power deficit country and one third of its homes are off grid or near off grid. This paper presents an efficient and affordable Solar DC solution for powering such homes. Though several solutions have emerged in the past for powering these homes, those have been expensive and energy inefficient. These solutions rely on several DC to AC and AC to DC conversions, to feed the widely used AC home loads, thus, wasting a large chunk of the expensive power. The proposed Solar DC solution for off-grid homes (OGH) is developed to use the generated PV power efficiently. With this solution, the panel and battery size is reduced by 2 to 2.5 times and the cost to power a house is reduced to nearly half the cost of the existing solutions. The paper also presents a techno-economic comparison between the proposed OGH solution with some existing solar systems.
43 citations