Management and Optimization for Renewable Energy and Power Systems

Dear Colleagues,

In the current context, the transition to a low-carbon energy paradigm is fundamental, where the time window—for climate change to remain at a tolerable level—is increasingly shorter. One of the essential pillars to accelerate this transition is renewable energy generation, which is gaining increasing prominence as it matures in its efficiency and profitability.

Thus, the great challenge we must overcome is reducing fossil fuel use and investing in technologies that prioritize renewable energy. This option is the best from an ecological point of view, but it has negative points that must be taken into consideration (e.g., hydro requires the construction of dams that lead to significant impacts; wind and solar depend on external factors for energy generation, making it difficult to depend exclusively on these sources).

The complexity of the management associated with these processes has increased exponentially, going from a model where generation was centralized and easily managed to one of distributed generation and where there is significant fluctuation in generation. Grid operators will have to manage this evolution to achieve a key objective: stability in generation and availability to respond to fluctuation, which is now at both ends of the spectrum—generation and demand.

The answer to these challenges lies in technology and new concepts. Technology must be able to obtain real-time information from the different generation units—renewable and non-renewable—and manage their entry and exit from the grid to ensure their stability. New technologies, such as the Internet of Things and sensors to transmit information on asset utilization, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to anticipate scenarios and improve efficiency levels, are essential components of a solution capable of responding to the complexity of this challenge. This involves the creation of a solution that allows the management of the portfolio of renewable resources with maximum efficiency and the use of available assets. Another intrinsically necessary characteristic is the scalability of the solution, which allows the easy integration of new assets and the optimization of their use. Finally, given the diversity of systems, it is essential that the management system can interconnect and obtain data from the most diverse systems, ensuring a bidirectional connection that allows their management.

The future of energy is distributed, with low emissions and with microgeneration playing important roles, integrating new concepts to accommodate fluctuations. Technology is the answer to making the future predictable, manageable, and integrated.

This Special Issue addresses management and optimization for renewable energy. The focus includes the methods and techniques regarding the planning/operation of power systems with a high penetration of renewables. Approaches to integrating these resources into electricity markets, as one of the main drivers for their efficient use, are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Mario Gomes
Prof. Dr. Paulo Coelho
Guest Editors

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• renewable energy sources/technologies
• high penetration of renewables
• power system
• microgeneration
• zero energy buildings
• electricity markets
• microgrids
• integration
• management
• optimization
• maintenance