Power quality monitoring of grids with high penetration of power converters. The project aims to monitor and analyse power quality of grids within the frequency ranges of 0-2 kHz (existing regulations) and 2-150 kHz (new regulations). Power quality of grids deteriorate due to the high penetrations of inverter-based renewable energy systems. To estimate power quality of grids, the project expects to develop a multi-domain simulation model based on power grid configurations and operating condition ....Power quality monitoring of grids with high penetration of power converters. The project aims to monitor and analyse power quality of grids within the frequency ranges of 0-2 kHz (existing regulations) and 2-150 kHz (new regulations). Power quality of grids deteriorate due to the high penetrations of inverter-based renewable energy systems. To estimate power quality of grids, the project expects to develop a multi-domain simulation model based on power grid configurations and operating condition. Developed methodologies will assist network service providers to better analyse harmonics and resonances within low and high voltage power systems. Expected outcomes of this project are to assist partners to monitor and solve the existing communication issues of audio frequency load control and to address power quality issues arising from the increasing connection of renewable energy systems.Read moreRead less
Advanced Modular Reconfigurable Energy Storage and Conversion Systems. The project aims to develop advanced, modular, reconfigurable energy conversion systems utilising lithium-titanate batteries. Battery energy storage is critical to energy security and integration of increased renewable generation with the electricity grid. However, its high cost prohibits its wide commercial acceptance. The proposed system avoids a large number of series connections of batteries and raises the voltage by usin ....Advanced Modular Reconfigurable Energy Storage and Conversion Systems. The project aims to develop advanced, modular, reconfigurable energy conversion systems utilising lithium-titanate batteries. Battery energy storage is critical to energy security and integration of increased renewable generation with the electricity grid. However, its high cost prohibits its wide commercial acceptance. The proposed system avoids a large number of series connections of batteries and raises the voltage by using series connection of high-frequency isolated converters for transformerless interconnection of such battery energy storage systems with the grid. The project outcomes include new grid support technologies.Read moreRead less
Smart house energy management system. This multidisciplinary project will empower Australia's power industry with tools and knowledge that will enable the transformation to be more intelligent and flexible. It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency by smarter use of the resources at household level.
Rapid starting and unsteady operation of hydraulic turbines. The project will investigate the ability of hydraulic turbines to start rapidly with the turbine spinning in air which is more water efficient and has lower maintenance costs than other methods. The project will allow higher use of hydroelectricity and higher penetration of wind or other intermittent renewable energy generation into an electricity grid.
Distributed control for wide-area demand response. This project underpins the paradigm shift from load following to load shaping in power system operation by unlocking the untapped potential of the demand side. The approach taken is to use modern ideas in distributed control. This will facilitate large-scale integration of renewable energy sources and thus render the energy supply more sustainable.
Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads a ....Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads approach based on power electronics technology. However, this can affect grid reliability and robustness. The project aims to develop advanced tools to better understand the power quality issues of Australian residential, commercial and industrial distribution networks. It also aims to develop novel techniques to improve power quality and reliability of the grids, and to develop harmonics emission and immunity levels to modify the Australian standards accordingly.Read moreRead less
Transition to Customer Response Driven Networks. The project seeks to develop an electrical network costing framework that appropriately rewards customers who act to reduce network stress. The solution to the existing explosion in distribution network costs is to develop customer-responsive solutions in demand management and use of storage. The aim of this project is to develop a framework for network costs that is driven by local congestion and which would reward customer-responsive solutions. ....Transition to Customer Response Driven Networks. The project seeks to develop an electrical network costing framework that appropriately rewards customers who act to reduce network stress. The solution to the existing explosion in distribution network costs is to develop customer-responsive solutions in demand management and use of storage. The aim of this project is to develop a framework for network costs that is driven by local congestion and which would reward customer-responsive solutions. The vision is that the aggregator would provide customers with communications/control equipment that would automate the changes in the responsiveness so that customer-generated load shifting would act to limit peaks.Read moreRead less
The impact of the mass-adoption of electric cars on the Australian electricity grid. This project represents the first technical study in Australia into the impact on the electric utility system of the mass adoption of electric vehicles. At present, road transport accounts for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Australia. The mass adoption of electric vehicles could reduce GHG in transport by up to 24 per cent when charged from the current grid or by 100 per cent if using renewable ....The impact of the mass-adoption of electric cars on the Australian electricity grid. This project represents the first technical study in Australia into the impact on the electric utility system of the mass adoption of electric vehicles. At present, road transport accounts for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Australia. The mass adoption of electric vehicles could reduce GHG in transport by up to 24 per cent when charged from the current grid or by 100 per cent if using renewable power. As well as receiving environmental advantages, Australia will benefit from this project through: (1) advancements in the management of the electricity distribution system by the development of a smart grid; (2) the development of principles for the placement of charging stations suitable for unique local conditions, such as Australia's long distances.Read moreRead less
Regulation of the Cell Bus Voltages of Large Scale Modular Multilevel Converters: Advanced Energy Converters for Future Electricity Grids. Large scale power electronic converters are essential to the emerging “Smart Grid” electrical distribution networks, using large numbers of cascaded cells to operate at the very high voltages that are required for direct grid connection. At present, the fundamental factors that drive the fluctuations of the cell DC link voltages, including in particular the c ....Regulation of the Cell Bus Voltages of Large Scale Modular Multilevel Converters: Advanced Energy Converters for Future Electricity Grids. Large scale power electronic converters are essential to the emerging “Smart Grid” electrical distribution networks, using large numbers of cascaded cells to operate at the very high voltages that are required for direct grid connection. At present, the fundamental factors that drive the fluctuations of the cell DC link voltages, including in particular the complex non-linear interactions caused by the physical cell switching processes, are very poorly understood. This project will use a new harmonic analysis strategy to investigate the basic engineering science that underpins this voltage fluctuation phenomena, to achieve a quantum step in the understanding of the fundamental operating processes of large scale cascaded converters.Read moreRead less
The human side of energy security. This project plans to develop a decision enactment model to guide industry and policy makers in producing more effective energy decisions. Managing our energy supply to ensure access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy is vital to Australian economic growth and quality of life. However, energy security is continually under threat from manipulation of supply, ageing infrastructure and natural disasters. Solutions from economic and engineering perspect ....The human side of energy security. This project plans to develop a decision enactment model to guide industry and policy makers in producing more effective energy decisions. Managing our energy supply to ensure access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy is vital to Australian economic growth and quality of life. However, energy security is continually under threat from manipulation of supply, ageing infrastructure and natural disasters. Solutions from economic and engineering perspectives only partially address these issues because they overlook critical human factors that underpin energy security. The project plans to use a practice-based approach to examine energy-related firms and agencies to explain how decisions and actions that take place within these contexts shape our energy future.Read moreRead less