Power and Energy Commons^™

Support The Next Generation By Sponsoring The 2024 Windstorm Challenge!, Advanced Structures And Composites Center

General University of Maine Publications

The Windstorm Challenge is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to get hands-on engineering practice at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). Organized by the same team that brings you AFloat, the Windstorm Challenge seeks to educate the next generation of floating offshore wind innovators.

Impacts Of High Renewable Power Grids On System Planning And Monitoring, Zhihao Jiang

Doctoral Dissertations

To achieve the goal of a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035 proposed by Biden’s Administration, the U.S. power grids are expecting a dramatic transformation in the resource mix of electricity generation. This dissertation will present related research in several different aspects that will be largely affected by the clean energy transition.

The increasing size and complexity of the bulk power systems have made it more computationally burdensome to simulate the power system in full-size. As an alternative to traditional model-based methods, Chapter 2 proposes a measurement-based model reduction approach using system identification techniques. Chapter 3 presents a parameter fine-tuning …

Consensus-Based Active And Reactive Power Control And Management Of Microgrids, Shruti Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microgrids incorporating distributed generation and renewable energy sources offer potential solutions to the energy crisis while modernizing traditional grids. Despite cost-effectiveness in some technologies, financial support remains crucial for expensive ones like PV, fuel cells, and storage technologies. Microgrids bring economic benefits, efficiency, reduced emissions, and improved power quality. Their success hinges on cost reductions in renewables, storage, reliability, and energy management systems, enabling operation both with and without the utility grid.

Economic Dispatch optimizes system costs, considering all constraints. Various methods tackle this problem, including quadratic convex functions, Lagrangian relaxation, and quadratic programming. For microgrids with distributed generators, seamless …

Power System Dynamic Control And Performance Improvement Based On Reinforcement Learning, Wei Gao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of using Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques for power system dynamic control, particularly voltage and frequency control. The conventional control strategies used in power systems are complex and time-consuming due to the complicated high-order nonlinearities of the system. RL, which is a type of neural network-based technique, has shown promise in solving these complex problems by fitting any nonlinear system with the proper network structure.

The proposed RL algorithm, called Guided Surrogate Gradient-based Evolution Strategy (GSES) determines the weights of the policy (which generates the action for our control reference signal) without back-propagation process …

Editorial: Internet Of Energy For Renewable Energy-Based Decarbonized Electrical Energy Systems, Onur Elma, Murat Kuzlu, Nasibeh Zohrabi

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

[Introduction] This research topic aims to highlight the current state-of-the art technologies in digitalized smart grids, including renewable energy and others with the Internet of Energy (IoE) under the decarbonized electrical energy systems. These approaches will increase the overall efficiency of electrical power systems, along with emerging technologies and applications in the current system. IoE covers all digitalization processes with mobility, electronic devices, and energy network as seen in Figure 1.

Evaluating The Impact Of Increased Cycling On Thermal Power Plants Due To Wind Energy Penetration In The Midwest: A Case Study, Joscelyne Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most significant shifts in the mix of U.S. electricity generation over the past few years has been the rapid expansion of renewable energy resources, especially solar and wind. However, fossil fuels are still necessary to fulfill the world’s energy requirements. Despite efforts to increase the use of renewable energy sources, these sources can be at times unreliable, causing countries around the world to continue to rely on base load units such as coal and natural gas. This decrease in fossil fuels and increase in renewable energy sources presents many complex issues in terms of power system planning, …

The Development Of An Inexpensive Alternative To Industry Solar Simulators, Raines A. Vanhuss

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Solar cells are a prominent renewable energy source used in the twenty-first century. In order for the technology to grow, research lab equipment is needed to measure and characterizes these cells. This report covers solar simulator devices and proposes an alternative design solution to lessen the cost of solar cell lab equipment. Common household light sources were tested by generating I-V characteristics using an amorphous silicon solar cell. The light bulb that generated the best I-V curve was selected and then tested for the optimal distance between the light source and the solar panel. The alternative solar simulator was then …

Afloat 2021: American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit, Advanced Structures And Composites Center

General University of Maine Publications

Email invitation to the "AFloat 2021: American Floating Offshore Wind Technical Summit" scheduled for September 8 and 9, 2021. Due to the emergence of COVID variants and the health risks they pose, a decision was made to hold the event virtually to ensure everyone's safety.

Real Work With Real Consequences: Enlisting Community Energy Engineering As An Approach To Envisioning Engineering In Context, Michelle E. Jordan, Steve Zuiker, Wendy Wakefield, Mia Delarosa

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

This study describes an illustrative case study from a year-round program that positions middle and high school youth to explore the social value of energy systems in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Designed to center existing youth assets, interests and values, Community Energy Engineering (CEE) frames engineering as a tool that students can enlist in order to understand and interrogate their local socio-energy system while also acting to transform it. CEE partners with Title 1 schools in Latino/a neighborhoods in the U.S. southwest. CEE situates youth community-based solar energy innovation projects as consequential, evolving in and with historically contingent engineering …

Floating Offshore Wind Project Webinar, University Of Maine Alumni Association, John Diamond, Habib Dagher

General University of Maine Publications

Watch Dr. Habib Dagher, executive director of UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, for a May 2021 update on UMaine’s offshore wind program. UMaine is collaborating with New England Aqua Ventus LLC, a joint venture between Diamond Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corporation, and RWE Renewables, the second-largest company in offshore wind globally, to develop an 11-megawatt floating offshore demonstration project off the coast of Maine.

The New England Aqua Ventus offshore wind project is a critical milestone in the commercial realization of UMaine’s internationally recognized offshore wind technology that was developed at the Advanced Structures and Composites …

Development Of Efficient Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells With Composition And Interface Engineering, Khan Mamun Reza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metal halide perovskites are considered the most promising solar energy technology because of their distinct properties, such as defect tolerance, low cost, easy fabrication due to solution-processibility, band tunability, etc. Due to these properties, the efficiency of perovskite solar cells reaches more than 25% and approaches the limit of singlejunction within last few years. To increase the efficiency further in a more cost-effective way, double junction tandem solar cells with an efficient ‘top’ wide-bandgap cell is desired. But wide-bandgap perovskites still face some critical issues, such as poor morphology, smaller grain size, the formation of excessive lead halides, light-induced halide …

The Politics Of Biomass Energy In California: How External Benefits Are Used To Support An Economically Marginal Sector, Dana L. Dysthe

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Since the 1990s, there has been a decline in biomass energy generation in California. In order to promote state governmental policies aiming to increase biomass energy generation in California, the sector has been linked to a series of external benefits that biomass energy purportedly brings. Through document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, five distinct external benefits were identified that have been used to promote the biomass energy sector. These external benefits are: renewable energy generation, air quality improvements, promotion of forest restoration and fuel removal projects, disposal of wood waste from agricultural and forestry sectors, and rural economic development. …

Distributed Control, Optimization, And State Estimation For Renewable Power System, Qiao Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional power systems are usually centralized systems, in which the control, operation and monitoring are performed by the centralized control center, e.g., SCADA. However, with the development of renewable energy, power systems are getting more and more distributed. So, it becomes necessary to establish the distributed power system operation methods for these power systems. In this research, the distributed techniques for the renewable power systems are proposed based on the consensus protocol technique from graph theory. These techniques cover the three important problems in power systems, i.e., economic dispatch, state estimation, and optimal power flow. First, the Distributed Economic …

Utilizing Rotational Energy In Wind Turbine Blades With The Flywheel Mechanism And Predicting The Power Output By Neural Networking, Anamika Mishra

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

As we expand and innovate for better and safer living, there will always be a need for new energy sources. By replacing fossil fuels, renewable energy is becoming a viable option for primary power generation. That is why researchers are turning their attention to renewable energy sources and ways of making the most of them. WIND ENERGY is a promising renewable and clean energy source harvested from the wind which is plentiful on the planet. We already have the technology to harvest it, but the efficiency and power output are not optimal. In this thesis, to enhance the energy harvesting …

Utilizing Rotational Energy In Wind Turbine Blades With The Flywheel Mechanism And Predicting The Power Output By Neural Networking, Anamika Mishra

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

As we expand and innovate for better and safer living, there will always be a need for new energy sources. By replacing fossil fuels, renewable energy is becoming a viable option for primary power generation. That is why researchers are turning their attention to renewable energy sources and ways of making the most of them. WIND ENERGY is a promising renewable and clean energy source harvested from the wind which is plentiful on the planet. We already have the technology to harvest it, but the efficiency and power output are not optimal. In this thesis, to enhance the energy harvesting …

Optimization Of Energy-Constrained Resources In Radial Distribution Networks With Solar Pv, Mohammad Nawaf Nazir

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The research objective of the proposed dissertation is to make best use of available distributed energy resources to meet dynamic market opportunities while accounting for AC physics of unbalanced distribution networks and the uncertainty of distributed solar photovoltaics (PV). With ever increasing levels of renewable generation, distribution system operations must shift from a mindset of static unidirectional power flows to dynamic, unpredictable bidirectional flows. To manage this variability, distributed energy resources (DERs; e.g.,solar PV inverters, inverter-based batteries, electric vehicles, water heaters, A/Cs) need to be coordinated for reliable and resilient operation. This introduces the challenge of coordinating such resources at …

Photovoltaic Systems On Dairy Farms: Financial And Renewable Multi-Objective Optimization (Farmoo) Analysis, Michael Breen, J. Upton, Michael D. Murphy

Publications

No abstract provided.

Energy And Economic Losses Due To Soiling On Utility Scale Pv Systems To Guide Timing Of Cost Effective Cleaning, Sophia Mcmillin Stockburger, Vicente Jesus Rios

Electrical Engineering

The purpose of this senior project is to develop and recommend a cleaning schedule for Goldtree Solar Farm that is both economically beneficial and an efficient use of cleaning for the client. Solar farms can have various factors that influence the cleaning schedule such as weather behavior, time of the year, soiling, and other factors. Through this senior project, the goal is to assess these factors effect on the solar farm to produce a cleaning schedule that will maximize energy production, maximize profits, and prevent insignificant cleaning

This analysis is motivated by defining and promoting the benefits of regular maintenance …

Optimization Of Union College’S Microgrid To Meet All Load With A Least-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy Mix, Caitlin Mcmahon

Honors Theses

A microgrid is a localized electric grid that generates some or all of the power used to meet its load. Union College currently has a microgrid that meets 70 percent of the campus’ load and is connected to the main grid. It is made up of a cogeneration plant as well as solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, which are renewable energy sources. The goal of this project is to determine the least cost, low-carbon energy mix that meets 100 percent of the campus’ load. The issue with solar and wind power is that they are variable based on time …

Cybersecurity Methods For Grid-Connected Power Electronics, Stephen Joe Moquin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present work shows a secure-by-design process, defense-in-depth method, and security techniques for a secure distributed energy resource. The distributed energy resource is a cybersecure, solar inverter and battery energy storage system prototype, collectively called the Cybersecure Power Router. Consideration is given to the use of the Smart Green Power Node for a foundation of the present work. Metrics for controller security are investigated to evaluate firmware security techniques. The prototype's ability to mitigate, respond to, and recover from firmware integrity degradation is examined. The prototype shows many working security techniques within the context of a grid-connected, distributed energy resource. …

Net Energy Index: A New Way To Measure Energy Efficient Buildings, Dylan Suplee

Senior Honors Theses

Energy efficiency indexes are useful for providing tangible measurements of energy efficiency in buildings. Buildings use approximately 70% of all electricity in the USA. Using that energy efficiently has two primary benefits: limiting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing grid strain. Utilizing local renewable energy sources contributes to the same benefits. Currently, there is no index that considers renewable energy sources when measuring energy efficiency. Therefore, this paper proposes the Net Energy Index, which compares the net power usage of a building to the floor area of the building in order to determine energy efficiency. If renewable energy supplies power to …

Analyzing Cost Effectiveness Of Photovoltaic Pavements, Ian N. Parks

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the largest consumer of energy within the Department of Defense (DoD). As such, the USAF is continually looking for ways to reduce consumption, as well improving network resiliency and assuring supply. One potential method for addressing these items is focusing on applications of renewable energy. A specific application of renewable energy that could greatly benefit the USAF if viable would be photovoltaic (PV) pavements. PV pavements would be able to capitalize upon the large swathes of pavements on Air Force (AF) installations, while not being hampered by other concerns such as clear zones …

Experimental Investigation Of Low-Voltage Silicon Carbide (Sic) Semiconductor Devices For Power Conversion Applications, Saleh Salem H. Alharbi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enhancing the performance and efficiency of power converter systems requires fast-switching power devices with considerably low switching and conduction losses. Silicon (Si) semiconductor devices are the essential components in electronic converter designs, and their behaviors and switching characteristics determine the system’s overall performance and efficiency. These conventional Si devices are nearing to hit their physical and operational limits in meeting power converter requirements with respect to high temperature and large voltage conditions. However, silicon carbide (SiC) power devices enable greater converter efficiency and better power density, particularly under hard switching frequencies and high output voltages due to their outstanding material …

Experimental Evaluation Of Medium-Voltage Cascode Gallium Nitride (Gan) Devices For Bidirectional Dc–Dc Converters, Salah Salem H. Alharbi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells and wind turbines, are rapidly implemented in DC microgrids, energy storage systems play an increasingly significant role in ensuring uninterrupted power supply and in supporting the reliability and stability of microgrid operations. Power electronics, especially bidirectional DC–DC converters, are essential parts in distributed energy storage and alternative energy systems because of their grid synchronization, DC power management, and bidirectional power flow capabilities. While there is increasing demand for more efficient, compact, and reliable power converters in numerous applications, most existing power converters are hindered by traditional silicon (Si) based semiconductors, which …

A Four-Port Bidirectional Dc-Dc Converter For Renewable Energy System And Microgrid, Xia Du

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Renewable energy has nowadays become important in electrical power applications. Power converters play an important role in integrating these distributed energy sources. However, due to their intermittence characteristics, e.g., the output power provided by the PV and wind turbine is not stable, either an energy storage system will be used or microgrid is formed between the main grid and the sources. To integrate these renewable energy sources and manage the power flow, a multiport converter is preferred because it is highly beneficial and cost-efficiently than the traditional solution that using multiple individual power converter for each source. This thesis proposed …

Electric Grid Decarbonization Pathways: Landscape Impacts, Policy Interactions, And The Need For Cooperation, Austin Wesley Thomas

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Climate change has motivated governments around the world to ratify aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Meeting these targets will require improved energy efficiency, behavior changes, and energy system decarbonization. Many climate change and energy policy targets imply the deployment of large amounts of low carbon, renewable energy resources like wind turbines and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels but do not specify how these resources will be sited on the landscape. The relationships between weather conditions, terrain, land cover, existing electric grid infrastructure, and electricity consumers will govern how these wind and solar PV infrastructure configurations develop and how quickly they …

Analyzing The Efficiency Of Horizontal Photovoltaic Cells In Various Climate Regions, Parker A. Hines, Torrey J. Wagner, Clay M. Koschnick, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

This research presents the development of linear regression models to predict horizontal photovoltaic power output. We collected a dataset from 14 global Department of Defense (DoD) installations over a timeframe of one year using an experimental apparatus, resulting in 24,179 usable data points. We developed a linear model to predict power output, which incorporated site-specific weather and geographical characteristics, along with Köppen-Geiger climate classifications in order to determine the effect of adding climate to the model. After performing a Wald test between the full model and a reduced model without Köppen-Geiger climate variables, it was determined that including Köppen-Geiger climate …

Control Strategy For A Small-Scale Microgrid Based On Battery Energy Storage System-Virtual Synchronous Generator (Bess-Vsg), Wei Gao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As one of widely deployed renewable energy resources, PV power is playing a very important role in microgrids today. It has advantages such as making the best of natural solar energy and being friendly to our environment. In this thesis, solar PV based microgrid is studied using modeling and simulation. Microgrid can run in either grid-connected-mode or islanded-mode. However, there are also some disadvantages for solar power. For solar panel, its output is influenced by weather conditions such as illumination intensity and temperature. In addition, during the control process of grid-connected mode, it is hard to guarantee its output power …

Paving The Way For Multidisciplinary Smart Campus Infrastructure: Leveraging Du's Unique Campus For The Advancement Of Smart Campus Culture, Camerron T. Mismash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions are embracing smart technologies to reap their benefits while simultaneously innovating new uses. From localized renewable energy generation to health monitoring and everything in between, academic campuses globally are paving the way for smart technology application. Eight primary categories have been identified in which institutions are applying smart technologies. Energy development is on the forefront of these smart initiatives. The University of Denver has begun its Smart Campus Initiative by implementing a revolving fund to invest in campus improvements related to the offset of carbon. By comparing how institutions are investing in smart campus initiatives and analyzing costs associated …

The New Application Of Battery-Electrode Reaction: Decoupled Hydrogen Production In Water Electrolysis, Yuan-Yuan Ma, Zhao-Wei Guo, Yong-Gang Wang, Yong-Yao Xia

Journal of Electrochemistry

Hydrogen has been considered as a promising alternative to unsustainable fossil fuels because of its high calorific value, clean and abundant resources. Water electrolysis combined with renewable energy is regarded as the best way for hydrogen production, which will become the foundation of future hydrogen economy. For the past few years, many efforts have been employed to develop the cheap and high-performance catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. However,the coupled hydrogen and oxygen evolution and the use of the expensive membrane have greatly restricted the flexibility of the conventional water electrolysis, and hindered the utilization of renewable …