Investigating Renewable Energy Sources

Investigating Renewable Energy Sources

This research aims at assessing the harmonic impact of RESs in the future power grid.

Background

One of the main changes to the UK power grid in recent years has been the influx of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), mostly in the form of wind and solar energy. In 2013, 14.9% of the UK electrical generation was from renewable sources; in 2017, this figure had risen to 27.9%, and it will continue to increase, as the Paris Agreement on climate change took effect from 2020 and the UK government will phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2025.

RESs are connected to the grid by means of voltage source converters (VSCs). One of the side effects of these devices is the increasing level of harmonics injected in the power grid. Harmonics affect the system's ability to perform at optimal levels by increasing power losses, causing malfunctioning in the equipment, and nuisance tripping. These detrimental effects have an impact on the users of electricity and on the system operators, who invest large amount of resources in studying the impact of RESs on the power grid, developing mitigating solutions, and upgrading equipment when necessary.

This project will investigate the transfer of harmonics between different voltage levels caused by RESs, by creating an innovative model of the UK power grid that includes both transmission and distribution system representation. The impact of increasing levels of RESs on harmonic levels and on system impedance will be addressed and suitable mitigating solutions will be identified. The research will be undertaken in partnership with National Grid, Measurable, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Aims & Objectives

The main output of this work will consist of computational models and methodologies to be used by academics and industries involved in performing harmonic assessments, not only in the UK. The models will be developed in close collaboration with National Grid (main industrial partner) and with the University of Texas at Austin (academic partner) to ensure accuracy and validation of the proposed approach. Measurable Energy (second industrial partner) will contribute with data validation and verification of energy measurements.

To achieve these aims, the following objectives have been set:

Publications

For all publications linked to this project click here.