Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers
Planned Papers

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F2: Distributed Energy System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2024 | Viewed by 9800

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ryszard Sroka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Measurement and Electronics, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: measurements of physical quantities; phase angle measurements; WIM systems and measurement of road traffic parameters; modeling and simulations of measurement systems; signal processing and data fusion in measurement systems; energy harvesting systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Hanzelka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Power Electronics and Automation of Energy Transformation Systems, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: power quality; smart grids; distributed energy resources; energy control systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The DSO has aggregated, apart from individual consumers and energy sources, energy clusters (ECs) or other forms of energy communities (local balancing areas) as well; the DSO will escalate its aggregation in the near future. The aim of EC is to increase the level of local consumption, increase the share of RES, facilitate balancing and maximize the economic benefits of the cluster members while maintaining certain standards of power quality. Most often it comes down to achieving the highest possible level of self-sufficiency of power supply from local sources. With the increase in the number of such ECs, it may turn out that a much greater benefit can be obtained by shaping the energy consumption/generation profile in these areas in accordance with the reference pattern. This will be a form of flexibility service provided on commercial terms. Full energy self-sufficiency will only become a special case. In order to implement such a scenario, it is necessary to obtain an appropriate level of observability (monitoring) and controllability (on the demand and supply side) within the highlighted ECs and their aggregation in order to shape the given total load profile. The latter will require the effective communication of LBAs within DT, monitoring their load profiles and using the possibility of changing them. The above statements result in the so-called “digital twins” functionalities proposed by some ECs and DNOs in some countries. They are mainly oriented to support the technical and economic activity of ECs and make the integration of different distributed energy resources (DERs) easier and more profitable.

The purpose of the proposed Special Issue is to present various contemporary DER technologies and their mutual integration and cooperation with public distribution networks. Editors are particularly interested in:

The presentation of the practical effects of already functioning solutions to the greatest possible extent;
The presentation of the widest possible set of energy sources and storages—from traditional, solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, waste heat utilization, and energy harvesting to efficient energy use and building automation. It is important to integrate many parallel operating sources and to control energy flows in order to achieve the assumed goals of energy communities;
The presentation of the widest possible range of energy problems that must be solved by energy communities, i.e. technical, organizational, business, social, economic problems, etc. We want to identify barriers to DER development and ways to overcome them.

Prof. Dr. Ryszard Sroka
Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Hanzelka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

distributed energy resources (DERs)
renewable/citizen energy communities
power quality
DERs integration
energy harvesting systems
powering of autonomous IoT node

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 2769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Prosumers’ Operation on Selected Parameters of Low-Voltage Distribution Network Operation

by Mariusz Benesz and Szczepan Moskwa

Energies 2024, 17(8), 1872; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17081872 - 14 Apr 2024

Viewed by 325

Abstract

This article presents the issue of the impact of the operation of prosumer installations on the operation of the distribution network. The emergence of a very large number of distributed generation units in electric distribution networks (in particular, photovoltaic installations in low-voltage grids) can be associated with both positive and negative consequences. Positive consequences can include, among others, the environmental aspect of electricity generation. Negative consequences, on the other hand, can include technical problems of power grid operation, manifested, for example, in changes that can be observed in steady states, in the values of such parameters of grid operation as voltage level, values of branch currents, or power and energy losses. The issue discussed will be illustrated by a calculation example considering, among other things, the size and location of the prosumer installation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modular PV System for Applications in Prosumer Installations with Uncontrolled, Unbalanced and Non-Linear Loads

by Paweł Kelm, Rozmysław Mieński and Irena Wasiak

Energies 2024, 17(7), 1594; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17071594 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 385

Abstract

This article proposes a modular system for prosumer installations composed of photovoltaic (PV) panels and energy storage (ES) integrated with the low voltage (LV) network through a common 4-wire AC/DC inverter. The novel idea is a control strategy for the inverter in which additional functionalities are incorporated. Apart from transmitting an active power generated by the PV source, the same inverter is used to manage energy generated by the PV and to compensate for the current unbalance, harmonics (including subharmonics and interharmonics) and reactive power of the prosumer loads. As a result of the algorithm operation, the currents flowing to the prosumer installation are sinusoidal, symmetrical and purely active, which results in voltage balancing and improving voltage waveforms at the point of common coupling (PCC). In this way, with the widespread use of this solution among prosumers, the impact of the prosumer installation on the distribution network is minimized, and power quality (PQ) disturbances such as unacceptable voltage rises, voltage unbalance and harmonics are avoided. The presented approach may be a solution to the problems network operators face nowadays due to the uncontrolled connection of PV sources. The proposed modular system is also beneficial for the prosumer as the instances of unacceptable overvoltage and, consequently, shutdowns of prosumer installations are reduced. The features of the proposed method are shown in relation to other means applied for PQ improvement in the networks with distributed generation. A principle of the control and the involving algorithm for the inverter is presented. The efficiency of the control strategy was tested in a simulation developed in the PSCAD/EMTDC program. The results of simulations are presented, and the proposed solution is concluded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RF Energy Harvesting

by Jakub Szut, Paweł Piątek and Mariusz Pauluk

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1204; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17051204 - 03 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 890

Abstract

This article presents research on the usefulness of three different electric circuit simulation environments for exploring energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves using energy harvesters. The software that is compared includes KiCad EDA, LT Spice and MATLAB Simscape Electrical.Too prepare a common background for the results comparison, crucial equations that combine RF transmission with energy are presented. Commercially available harvesters are also presented. An overview of the state-of-the-art research on this topic is summarised. In order to verify software using conditions that are similar to real ones, the power available at the 868 MHZ ISM band, which is close to the LTE bands used for telecommunications, is calculated. The results obtained using different software are close to being identical for all tested simulation environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 14642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Efficient Electrothermal Model of a Thermoelectric Converter for a Thermal Energy Harvesting Process Simulation and Electronic Circuits Powering

by Piotr Dziurdzia, Piotr Bratek and Michał Markiewicz

Energies 2024, 17(1), 204; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010204 - 29 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

This paper deals with an electrothermal model of a thermoelectric converter dedicated to performing simulations of coupled thermal and electrical phenomena taking place in harvesting processes. The proposed model is used to estimate the electrical energy gain from waste heat that would be sufficient to supply electronic circuits, in particular autonomous battery-less nodes of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The developed model is not limited to low-power electronic solutions such as WSN or IoT; it can also be scaled up and applied to simulations of considerably higher thermal power conversion. In this paper, a few practical case studies are presented that show the feasibility and suitability of the proposed model for complex simultaneous simulation processes in both the electrical and thermal domains. The first example deals with a combined simulation of the electrothermal model of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and an electronic harvester circuit based on Analog Devices’ power management integrated circuit LTC3108. The second example relates to the thermalization effect in heat sink-less harvesting applications that could be mitigated by a pulse mode operation. The unique contribution and advancement of the model is the hierarchical structure for scaling up and down, incorporating the complexity of the Seebeck effect, the Joule effect, heat conduction, as well as the temperature dependence of the used materials and the thermoelectric pellet geometries. The simulations can be performed in steady as well as transient states under changing electrical loads and temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Transfer Analysis for Combustion under Low-Gradient Conditions in a Small-Scale Industrial Energy Systems

by Mieszko Tokarski and Rafał Buczyński

Energies 2024, 17(1), 186; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010186 - 28 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 703

Abstract

The issue of maintaining low-gradient combustion in the conditions of high heat extraction has been investigated numerically in this work. The analyses include the application of a convective boundary condition at the wall (with estimated boiling heat transfer coefficient); analysis of the Internal Recirculation Device’s impact on combustion products and heat transfer under low-gradient conditions; and comparison of both traditional and low-gradient combustion modes. It was shown that the Internal Recirculation Device material and geometry has a significant impact on the nitrogen oxide (NO

_{x}

) formation mechanism, as NO

_{2}

emission becomes predominant and can rise up to several hundreds ppm. What is more, along with decrease in thermal resistance of the IRD, CO emissions also increase rapidly, even achieving over 2000 ppm. Additionally, the convective heat transfer rate decreased by about 25% after switching from traditional to low-gradient combustion, whereas the radiative mechanism increased by ≈40% compared to traditional mode. It should also be mentioned that the low-gradient combustion applied in this work achieved approximately 10% higher efficiency than conventional combustion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 12256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency and Power Loss Distribution in a High-Frequency, Seven-Level Diode-Clamped Inverter

by Robert Stala, Szymon Folmer, Adam Penczek, Jakub Hachlowski and Zbigniew Mikoś

Energies 2023, 16(23), 7866; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16237866 - 01 Dec 2023

Viewed by 718

Abstract

The paper presents efficiency and power loss analysis in a high-frequency, seven-level diode-clamped inverter (7LDCB). The inverter is composed of four-level (4L) diode-clamped branches based on MOSFET transistors and Si Schottky diodes. The range of DC-link voltages enables the operation of the inverter in connection with a single-phase power grid. The tested inverter can be controlled using various modulation concepts that affect its parameters, but also energy losses. Carrier-based modulation, which may be useful in a few applications, is compared to selective modulation based on the state machine (SM-based) algorithm. The article demonstrates the efficiency level of the inverter as well as the influence of the modulation method and switching frequency on the efficiency and loss distribution in semiconductor devices. The article also shows the hardware implementation of a complex modulation algorithm based on selective switching states used to maintain voltage balance on three DC-link capacitors. Redundant switching states allow the generation of the same voltage but with the use of a selected DC-link capacitor. This makes it possible to balance the DC-link voltage with the load current. The article presents experimental results, which show the advantage of using the modulation method with selective switching states. First, it allows for equalizing the loading of DC-link capacitors. The second advantage is a more uniform distribution of losses in semiconductor components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exhaust Air Recovery System from the Utilisation Stage of Pneumatic System in Double Transmission Double Expansion Approach

by Jan Markowski, Dominik Gryboś, Jacek Leszczyński and Yohiside Suwa

Energies 2023, 16(23), 7840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16237840 - 29 Nov 2023

Viewed by 668

Abstract

Pneumatic machines and systems are highly popular in the automation and mechanisation of production lines in many industry sectors, such as, e.g., food, automotive, production, and packaging. However, the energy efficiency of the pneumatic system is very low at about 10 to 20% The exhaust air from pneumatic machines has high energy, which is considered waste. This study introduces a novel energy recovery machine designed for integration into industrial compressed air systems. The authors describe the potential of the recovery machine within an industrial environment and present a developed exhaust air recovery system which collects exhaust air and converts it into electricity. Comprehensive industrial tests were conducted to evaluate its performance. The results, along with a detailed analysis, are presented, thereby showing there machine’s capabilities in recovering energy from compressed air processes. This research provides valuable insights into the practical implementation and benefits of deploying such energy recovery systems at an industrial scale. The findings demonstrate the machine’s potential to enhance energy efficiency and reduce operational costs in a wide array of industrial applications that are reliant on compressed air. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Deposition of Pollutants on the Surface of Photovoltaic Modules

by Janusz Teneta, Mirosław Janowski and Karolina Bender

Energies 2023, 16(23), 7749; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16237749 - 24 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 651

Abstract

This article presents the results of an experiment to measure the mass of contaminants naturally deposited on the surface of photovoltaic modules. Six types of PV modules included in the installation located on the roof of the C3 building (AGH campus, Krakow, Poland) were tested. More than 120 contamination samples were collected during the experiment, which lasted from 23 March to 15 June 2022. Detailed analysis showed a clear relationship between the tilt angle of the photovoltaic modules and the amount of contamination accumulating on them. The impact of the backsheet color and the way the module was mounted (vertical or horizontal) on the amount of dirt deposited on a given module was also recorded. Because the experiment lasted for many weeks, it was possible to investigate the intensity of the contamination build-up over the following weeks (in the absence of module cleaning) and the effect of precipitation on the module self-cleaning. During one measurement, a layer of contamination with a normalized mass of 181 mg/m² was found to reduce PV module peak power by almost 4%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 11712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Voltage Network Modeling and Analysis with Rooftop PV Forecasts: A Realistic Perspective from Queensland, Australia

by Jake Anderson and Ashish P. Agalgaonkar

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5834; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16155834 - 07 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1100

Abstract

Recent years have seen a rapid uptake in distributed energy resources (DER). Such technologies pose a number of challenges to network operators, which ultimately can limit the amount of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that can be connected to a network. The objective of this industry-based research was to determine the potential network effects of forecast levels of customer-owned rooftop solar PV on Energy Queensland’s distribution network and formulate functions that can be used to determine such effects without the requirement for detailed network modeling and analysis. In this research, many of Energy Queensland’s distribution feeders were modeled using DIgSILENT PowerFactory and analyzed with forecast levels of solar PV and customer load. Python scripts were used to automate this process, and quasi-dynamic simulation (QDSL) models were used to represent the dynamic volt–watt and volt–var response of inverters, as mandated by the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4777. In analyzing the results, linear relationships were revealed between the number of PV systems on a feeder and various network characteristics. Regression was used to form trend equations that represent the linear relationships for each scenario analyzed. The trend equations provide a way of approximating network characteristics for other feeders under various levels of customer-owned rooftop solar PV without the need for detailed modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 11341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Grid Integration of Livestock Biogas Using Self-Excited Induction Generator and Spark-Ignition Engine

by Panupon Trairat, Sakda Somkun, Tanakorn Kaewchum, Tawat Suriwong, Pisit Maneechot, Teerapon Panpho, Wikarn Wansungnern, Sathit Banthuek, Bongkot Prasit and Tanongkiat Kiatsiriroat

Energies 2023, 16(13), 4963; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16134963 - 26 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1050

Abstract

This study developed a grid-connected biogas power generation system for a rural community using a 3-phase 2.2 kW squirrel-cage induction machine as the self-excited induction generator. The generator was driven by a 196 cc single-cylinder spark-ignition engine fueled by biogas. We developed a back-to-back converter that consists of a 3-phase PWM rectifier as the generator-side converter and a single-phase LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter. The generator-side converter transferred the active power to the grid-side converter and supplied the reactive power control back to the generator. The notch filter-based bus voltage control on the generator side mitigated the inter-harmonics in the generator current. The injected grid current complied with the IEEE 1547 standard because of the multi-frequency unbalanced synchronous reference frame control. The proposed system was validated with biogas produced from pig manure at a pig farm in central Thailand, which found a maximum output of 1.2 kW with a thermal system efficiency of 10.7%. The proposed system was scheduled to operate at 1.2 kW for 8 h per day with a levelized cost of 0.07 US$/kWh, 42% cheaper than the retail electricity price, and a payback period of 2.76 years. The proposed system is suitable for a farm with a minimum of 34 pigs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 503 KiB

Open AccessReview

Compression Techniques for Real-Time Control and Non-Time-Critical Big Data in Smart Grids: A Review

by Kamil Prokop, Andrzej Bień and Szymon Barczentewicz

Energies 2023, 16(24), 8077; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16248077 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1031

Abstract

Significant amounts of data need to be transferred in order to optimize the operation of power grids. The development of advanced metering and control infrastructure ensures a growth in the amount of data transferred within smart grids. Data compression is a strategy to reduce the burden. This paper presents current challenges in the field of time-series data compression. This paper’s novel contribution is the division of data in smart grids to real-time data used for control purposes and big data sets used for non-time-critical analysis of the system. Both of these two applications have different requirements for effective compression. Currently used algorithms are listed and described with their advantages and drawbacks for both of these applications. Details needed for the implementation of an algorithm were also provided. Comprehensive analysis and comparison are intended to facilitate the design of a data compression method tailored for a particular application. An important contribution is the description of the influence of data compression methods on cybersecurity, which is one of the major concerns in modern power grids. Future work includes the development of adaptive compression methods based on artificial intelligence, especially machine learning and quantum computing. This review will offer a solid foundation for the research and design of data compression methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Management of distributed renewable energy sources: wind, photovoltaics, biogas and water
Authors: Krzysztof Woźny; Andrzej Firlit; Konstanty Waldemar Marszalek; Andrzej Firlit; Konstanty Waldemar Marszalek; Łukasz Jerzy Topolski
Affiliation: EnerSim Sp. z o.o., Królewska 57, 30-081, Kraków, Poland
Abstract: The development of various types of power plants built from renewable energy sources has become one of the key problems of the current world energy situation. The most common composition is combined wind power plants with photovoltaic plants. The problem of managing and distributing electricity is important for distributed systems over a large area. Decentralized energy production represents a crucial step towards the achievement of sustainable and decentralized energy generation. In this regard, the present work endeavors to demonstrate a decentralized energy system, comprising a diversity of renewable energy sources. This system comprises 4 wind power facilities, 4 photovoltaic power facilities, 1 biogas power facility, and 1 hydro turbine that were positioned in disparate geographical locations within the territory of Poland.

Title: Prediction of energy consumption on the example of heterogenic commercial buildings
Authors: Kazimierz Kawa; Rafał Mularczyk; Waldemar Bauer; Katarzyna Grobler-Dębska; Edyta Kucharska
Affiliation: AGH University of Science and Technology Stanisław Staszic in Krakow, Poland

Title: Optimization of Energy Harvesting Power System for Sterilizable Medical IoT
Authors: Ryszard Sroka; Mateusz Danioł; Lukas Bohler
Affiliation: Department of Measurement and Electronics, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (11 papers)

Research

Review

Planned Papers

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI