Grid integration of clean electricity generation and storage

Abstract

Environmental concerns, energy security, and increasing energy demand have motivated the development and introduction of multiple clean technologies, including renewable energy and electric vehicles. (Here “clean" refers to very low production of CO2 and criteria pollutants.) In order to create a green future, we need to improve the efficiency and advance the designs of these technologies. Focusing on Grid-Integrated Vehicles (GIV) and wind energy research areas, this set of studies analyzes challenges including efficiency and grid interconnection of new clean and distributed technologies with a power grid that was designed for large generators in central locations. ☐ More specifically, the dissertation consists of three studies. In the first study, power losses in a Grid-Integrated Vehicle (GIV) system, including the electric vehicle and the building components, are experimentally measured. Two engineering design approaches are proposed so as to operate at maximum power efficiency. In the second study, a layout of large-scale offshore wind energy installation along with the electrical infrastructure is proposed. The power losses when transmitting the power generated from the offshore wind farms to the shore are calculated from the design. Three different grid connection designs are compared for efficiency, a) using HVAC lines to nearest shore point, b) using HVDC lines to nearest shore point, and c) using a combination of HVAC and HVDC assuming an HVDC transmission cable running parallel to shore (a backbone topology). In the third study, we explore the Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) capability of wind farms. When the wind farms are connected to the grid, they have to comply with the grid interconnection requirements. During low voltage events in the power system, the wind turbines need to stay connected and in some cases to balance the system with reactive current. This section describes a two-stage process for LVRT capability testing including simulations and field testing.