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Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (23 October 2023) | Viewed by 13177

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Te-Tien Ku

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Guest Editor

Electrical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Interests: smart grid

Prof. Dr. Chia-Hung Lin

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Guest Editor

Electrical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Interests: distribution systems

Prof. Dr. Chun-Lien Su

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Electrical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Interests: microgrids
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the increasing renewable energy in distribution systems, system architectures have changed from traditional power supply for loads to complex systems with distributed generation. For system operation, information and communications technologies are applied to collect all equipment status and coordinate with the energy storage system to ensure the power quality of the distribution systems. Therefore, this Special Issue will provide a forum for the discussion of the technological applications of smart grids, planning and regulation of energy storage systems, auxiliary services of power distribution systems, etc.

To improve the operational sustainability of distribution systems, the applications of smart grid technology are essential. Information and communications technologies and on-site sensor devices can collect real-time operation information. Moreover, energy storage technology supports the operation of a distribution system. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Internet of things: Internet of things communications technologies are applied to collect the real-time operation information of a large-scale system, which can be used as a reference for system analysis.
Energy management: The integration of distributed generation and storage systems based on the real-time operation information of distribution systems improves the power quality of these distribution systems.
Microgrid applications: The development of special protection systems for microgrids with distributed generation and battery energy storage systems and loads so that they can resume stable operation after transient disturbances.
Distribution system operation: Research on sensor devices to assist in system fault detection, location, and the restoration of distribution systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Te-Tien Ku
Prof. Dr. Chia-Hung Lin
Prof. Dr. Chun-Lien Su
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

smart grid
energy storage
distribution systems
microgrid
fault detection

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wireless Diagnosis and Control of DC–DC Converter for Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems

by Reda El Abbadi, Mohamed Aatabe and Allal El Moubarek Bouzid

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083252 - 13 Apr 2024

Viewed by 520

Abstract

Integrating a photovoltaic (PV) microgrid system with wireless network control heralds a new era for renewable energy systems. This fusion capitalizes on the strengths of photovoltaic technology, leveraging solar energy for electricity generation while incorporating advanced networked control capabilities. Although employing network communication to facilitate information exchange among system elements offers benefits, it also introduces novel challenges which can hinder fault diagnosis, such as packet loss and communication delay. This paper focuses on a cloud-based fault detection approach for an effective boost converter within a photovoltaic system. Faults are diagnosed using a detection algorithm based on the Lyapunov function, ensuring power optimization. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated through simulations of a PV generator model utilizing real-time weather data collected in Brazil, illustrating its robustness through the acquired results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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23 pages, 1554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Machine Learning-Based Approach for Fault Detection and Location in Low-Voltage DC Microgrids

by Sirus Salehimehr, Seyed Mahdi Miraftabzadeh and Morris Brenna

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072821 - 28 Mar 2024

Viewed by 687

Abstract

DC microgrids have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to enhance energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and improve the resilience of power distribution systems. However, the reliable operation of DC microgrids relies on the early detection and location of faults to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. This paper aims to develop fast and reliable fault detection and location mechanisms for DC microgrids, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and contributing to resource conservation and sustainability goals. The fault detection method is based on compressed sensing (CS) and Regression Tree (RT) techniques. Besides, an accurate fault location method using the feature matrix and long short-term memory (LSTM) model combination has been provided. To implement the proposed fault detection and location method, a DC microgrid equipped with photovoltaic (PV) panels, the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging station, and a hybrid energy storage system (ESS) are used. The simulation results represent the proposed methods’ superiority over the recent studies. The fault occurrence in the studied DC microgrid is detected in 1 ms, and the proposed fault location method locates the fault with an accuracy of more than 93%. The presented techniques enhance DC microgrid reliability while conserving renewable resources, vital to promoting a greener and more sustainable power grid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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28 pages, 1008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinated Hybrid Approach Based on Firefly Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization for Distributed Secondary Control and Stability Analysis of Direct Current Microgrids

by Olanrewaju Lasabi, Andrew Swanson, Leigh Jarvis, Anuoluwapo Aluko and Arman Goudarzi

Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031204 - 31 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 895

Abstract

Standalone DC microgrids can potentially influence intelligent energy systems in the future. They accomplish this by employing droop control to smoothly integrate various renewable energy sources (RESs) to satisfy energy demands. This method ensures equitable allocation of load current among RESs, promoting efficiency and smooth operation. Utilizing droop control typically leads to a reduction in the voltage of the DC bus. Hence, to uniformly distribute current among several RESs while simultaneously regulating the DC bus voltage, this research proposes a distributed secondary control technique. The proposed technique ensures fair distribution of current and eliminates bus voltage variations by integrating both current and voltage errors within the designed control loop. An innovative hybrid firefly and particle swarm optimization algorithm (FFA–PSO) is introduced to aid in parameter selection for the distributed control approach, facilitating the attainment of the intended control objectives. A DC microgrid state-space model was developed, which incorporates eigenvalue observation analysis to evaluate the impacts of the optimized secondary distributed control on the stability of the microgrid. A real-time testing setup is built using MATLAB/Simulink^® R2022b software. and implemented on a Speedgoat^™ real-time machine to verify the practical performance of the proposed approach in real-world applications. The results showcase the robustness of the proposed control technique in achieving voltage stabilization and even current allocation within the DC microgrid. This is evidenced by minimal oscillations and undershoots/overshoots and swift response times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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30 pages, 6321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of LiFi, BPL, and Fiber Optic Technologies in Smart Grid Backbone Networks: A Proposal for Exploiting the LiFi LED Street Lighting Networks of Power Utilities and Smart Cities

by Athanasios G. Lazaropoulos and Helen C. Leligou

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020686 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1024

Abstract

This paper presents a proposal for extending an existing terabit-class backbone network architecture to enable the use of LiFi technology by power utilities and smart cities. The proposed architecture provides a practical means of integrating three smart grid communication technologies—fiber optics, BPL networks and LiFi LED street lighting networks—across the transmission and distribution power grids of smart cities. In addition to expanding the backbone communications network architecture, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of LiFi technology and analyzes the concept of LiFi LED street lighting networks in a smart city. The analytical investigation of the operation and performance of LiFi LED street lighting networks focuses on the following aspects: (i) typical LED street lighting configurations and default configuration parameter values encountered in smart sustainable cities; (ii) the applied LiFi channel model and corresponding default model parameters; (iii) SNR computations and LiFi channel classifications for a variety of scenarios; and (iv) available LiFi LED street lighting network architectures for integrating LiFi LED street lighting networks with the backbone network. The paper also discusses the potential benefits of LiFi LED street lighting networks for power utilities, smart cities and individuals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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13 pages, 5242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator Application to Mitigate Voltage Variation for Distribution Feeders

by Te-Tien Ku, Chia-Hung Lin, Chao-Shun Chen, Yih-Der Lee, Jheng-Lun Jiang, Sing-Jia Tzeng and Chen-Min Chan

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511618 - 27 Jul 2023

Viewed by 939

Abstract

With the growing penetration of distributed energy resources (DER), the accompanying challenges have led utilities to limit the hosting capacities of DER installations on distribution feeders. A distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) is a power electronic device to provide dynamic injections and absorption of reactive power into the distribution grid with more flexible and reliable voltage control and power quality improvement. A distributed energy resources management system (DERMS) is developed to provide more effective control of a DSTATCOM that can help substantially increase hosting capacity and mitigate overvoltage problems with the existing feeder. A Taiwan power company’s (Taipower) feeder is selected for computer simulation, and the DSTATCOM is employed in the test feeder to demonstrate the effectiveness of the DSTATCOM in improving the overvoltage problems. The voltage/reactive power (Volt/VAR) control of the DSTATCOM helps reduce overvoltage/voltage fluctuations as the DER output increases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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19 pages, 5696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modified Droop Control for Microgrid Power-Sharing Stability Improvement

by Ahmed Rashwan, Alexey Mikhaylov, Tomonobu Senjyu, Mahdiyeh Eslami, Ashraf M. Hemeida and Dina S. M. Osheba

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411220 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

Isolated microgrid (IMG) power systems face the significant challenge of achieving fast power sharing and stable performance. This paper presents an innovative solution to this challenge through the introduction of a new droop control technique. The conventional droop controller technique used in inverter-based IMG systems is unable to provide satisfactory performance easily, as selecting a high droop controller gain to achieve fast power sharing can reduce the system’s stability. This paper addresses this dilemma by proposing a modified droop control for inverter-based IMGs that effectively dampens low-frequency oscillations, even at higher droop gain values that would typically lead to instability. The design is described step-by-step, and the proposed controller’s effectiveness is validated through time domain simulation analysis. The results demonstrate the significant improvement in stability and fast power sharing achieved with the proposed controller. This innovative technique presents a promising solution for achieving fast power sharing and stable performance in IMG power systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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15 pages, 4652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Optimization Method of Integrated Energy System Network Planning

by Chun Yang, Shijun You, Yingzhu Han, Xuan Wang, Ji Li and Lu Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118843 - 30 May 2023

Viewed by 1528

Abstract

The development of an integrated energy system (IES) is conducive to promoting the transformation of the energy system and helping to achieve the ‘double carbon’ goal in China. The IES integrates cooling, heating, electricity, gas, and other energy resources, which is significantly more difficult than single energy network planning. This paper systematically sorts out the process of IES network planning and proposes an improved methodology. Firstly, the bottom-up dynamic multiple-load forecasting method of 8760 h a year is proposed as the basis of system configuration and capacity selection. Subsequently, a planning method for energy station location and route optimization using the Dijkstra algorithm is constructed by applying the P-median optimization model. Finally, when optimizing the capacity allocation of the IES, the complementary characteristics of natural gas, electricity and heat, as well as the corresponding energy demand characteristic, have been fully considered, so that the optimization objectives can be reasonably determined. Through the actual calculation, it is found that the optimization method proposed in this paper can reduce the construction cost of the network by 41%. The work combines the process of energy network planning and capacity configuration of IES, which provides a simple, easy and economical solution for IES planning in new areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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21 pages, 6435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Stockwell Transform, Support Vector Machine and D-STATCOM for the Identification, Classification and Mitigation of Power Quality Problems

by Epaphros Mengistu, Baseem Khan, Yazeed Qasaymeh, Ali S. Alghamdi, Muhammad Zubair, Ahmed Bilal Awan, Muhammad Gul Bahar Ashiq, Samia Gharib Ali and Cristina Mazas Pérez-Oleaga

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076007 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1330

Abstract

Power Quality (PQ) has become a significant issue in power networks. Power quality disturbances must be precisely and appropriately identified. This activity involves identifying, classifying, and mitigating power quality problems. A case study of the Awada industrial zone in Ethiopia is taken into consideration to show the practical applicability of the proposed work. It is found that the current harmonic distortion levels exceed the restrictions with a maximum percentage Total Harmonic Distortion of Current (THDI) value of up to 23.09%. The signal processing technique, i.e., Stockwell Transform (ST) is utilized for the identification of power quality issues, and it covers the most important and common power quality issues. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) method is used to categorize power quality issues, which enhances the classification procedure. The ST scored better in terms of accuracy than the Wavelet Transform (WT), Fourier Transform (FT), and Hilbert Transform (HT), obtaining 97.1%, as compared to 91.08%, 88.91%, and 86.8%, respectively. The maximum classification accuracy of SVM was 98.3%. To lower the current level of harmonic distortion in the industrial sector, a Distribution Static Compensator (D-STATCOM) is developed in the current control mode. To evaluate the performance of the D-STATCOM, the performance of the distribution network with and without D-STATCOM is simulated. The simulation results show that THDI is reduced to 4.36% when the suggested D-STATCOM is applied in the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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16 pages, 2303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Phase Balancing in Electricity Distribution Feeders Using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming

by Chia-Hung Lin, Te-Tien Ku, Chung-Sheng Li and Chao-Shun Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4473; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054473 - 2 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1217

Abstract

A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that includes reductions in neutral current, feeder energy-loss cost, customer interruption cost, and labor cost is developed to derive the optimal phase-swapping strategy to enhance the phase balancing of distribution feeders. The neutral current of the distribution feeder is reduced by the phase-swapping strategy so that the tripping of the low-energy overcurrent relay can be prevented and customer-service interruption costs and the labor cost to execute the phase-swapping works can be justified by the energy-loss reduction obtained. The novelty of the study is its derivation of the phase-swapping strategy using mixed-integer linear programming to solve the problem of the unbalance of the distribution feeders. A Taipower distribution feeder is used to derive the phase-swapping strategy to demonstrate the proposed MILP model for phase balancing. The comparison of the phase currents and neutral current before phase-swapping reveals that the three-phase balance was not only significantly improved, but that the voltage unbalance was also decreased dramatically using the proposed phase-swapping strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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Review

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19 pages, 1921 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advancing Sustainable Energy Transition: Blockchain and Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading in India’s Green Revolution

by Jhanvi Gupta, Sanskar Jain, Suprava Chakraborty, Vladimir Panchenko, Alexandr Smirnov and Igor Yudaev

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13633; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813633 - 12 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1870

Abstract

Advancing the sustainable energy transition is a major need in nations that are constantly evolving and developing in terms of their energy economy. India has been chosen for the purpose of analysis due to the heterogenous nature of its polity, topographies, infrastructural capabilities and diverse framework. In accordance with the sustainable development goals proposed by the UN, a metamorphosis is observed within the renewable energy sector of the nation. Blockchain technology that facilitates a transparent transition is incorporated on various upcoming platforms. This is backed up by peer-to-peer trading of energy providing a prosumer with an autonomous environment. The goal of this paper is to highlight the struggles and challenges faced by the energy sector as it takes up unconventional and non-traditional approaches within the country. It also aims to discover potential ways that would help a nation like India facilitate such a transition by studying its ongoing trends. The need is eminent for a practical study that is specific to a developing nation like India in terms of P2P energy trading enabled by blockchain technology to promote the use of open-sourced electricity and achieve a decentralized system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)

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