Networked control for distributed renewable energy systems integration. The project aims to develop novel networked and coordinated control methods that greatly increase the capacity of the existing Australian power networks to host growing amounts of roof-top photovoltaic (PV) generation and customer load. These methods reduce the current need for high levels of continuing capital investments by optimally managing the existing network assets to fully exploit the inherent capabilities of PV inve ....Networked control for distributed renewable energy systems integration. The project aims to develop novel networked and coordinated control methods that greatly increase the capacity of the existing Australian power networks to host growing amounts of roof-top photovoltaic (PV) generation and customer load. These methods reduce the current need for high levels of continuing capital investments by optimally managing the existing network assets to fully exploit the inherent capabilities of PV inverters and new distributed battery storages that are now appearing at the domestic and network level. The project plans to combine robust networked control with stochastic optimisation methods to extract the best value from existing and new assets, while improving the load and generation hosting capability, for a given level of reliability.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100383
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,446.00
Summary
Plasmonic hot-electron technologies for nanoscale energy conversion. This project aims to improve the efficiency of plasmonically enhanced hot-electron photodiodes for solar fuel generation and targeted photo-detection. This project is expected to make advances towards the development of effective devices which will directly impact a range of applications of local and global importance including alternative energy production, and the next generation of imaging and sensing technologies for the bi ....Plasmonic hot-electron technologies for nanoscale energy conversion. This project aims to improve the efficiency of plasmonically enhanced hot-electron photodiodes for solar fuel generation and targeted photo-detection. This project is expected to make advances towards the development of effective devices which will directly impact a range of applications of local and global importance including alternative energy production, and the next generation of imaging and sensing technologies for the biomedical and health industries.Read moreRead less
Medium voltage DC: Enabling active, flexible and efficient power networks. Medium voltage DC (MVDC) systems promise to offer the required flexibility in next generation active electricity networks to enable higher renewable energy integration, take advantage of more readily available energy storage, and manifest simpler control and operation. The intended outcome of the Project is to address the challenge of developing MVDC networks via an integrated and cohesive approach, from the initial desig ....Medium voltage DC: Enabling active, flexible and efficient power networks. Medium voltage DC (MVDC) systems promise to offer the required flexibility in next generation active electricity networks to enable higher renewable energy integration, take advantage of more readily available energy storage, and manifest simpler control and operation. The intended outcome of the Project is to address the challenge of developing MVDC networks via an integrated and cohesive approach, from the initial design of the individual power electronics converters, right up to network design and "system of systems" implementation. The outcomes of the Project will provide clear pathways and solutions for new topologies, facilitating Australia’s and the world’s transition to next generation electricity infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100021
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids. The proposed Future Grids Training Centre will advance Australia’s transition to a clean energy future. It will address the complex and challenging issues currently limiting the growth of renewable energy through innovations that facilitate widespread integration of these resources into electricity grids while maintaining grid stability. The Centre will deliver the next generation of industry leaders and specialists in future grid tech ....ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids. The proposed Future Grids Training Centre will advance Australia’s transition to a clean energy future. It will address the complex and challenging issues currently limiting the growth of renewable energy through innovations that facilitate widespread integration of these resources into electricity grids while maintaining grid stability. The Centre will deliver the next generation of industry leaders and specialists in future grid technologies for renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, supported by renewable hydrogen energy storage and market driven customer responsiveness enabled by new information and communications technologies, to provide a more sustainable, reliable, secure and affordable electricity system.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
Monitoring and Management System for Smart Distribution Networks. This project aims to develop, implement and test an innovative state estimation algorithm for monitoring low voltage electricity distribution networks. The proposed system is an essential step to enable a range of smart network applications to manage peak network loads and increasing amounts of solar photovoltaic generation. The project includes a prototype application and field trial for managing the operational state of part of ....Monitoring and Management System for Smart Distribution Networks. This project aims to develop, implement and test an innovative state estimation algorithm for monitoring low voltage electricity distribution networks. The proposed system is an essential step to enable a range of smart network applications to manage peak network loads and increasing amounts of solar photovoltaic generation. The project includes a prototype application and field trial for managing the operational state of part of the network to keep within safe loading limits. It may also facilitate future new technologies such as demand-side management, energy storage and electric vehicles. By managing peak loading, the project could defer or eliminate capital-intensive network augmentations and associated customer electricity price increases.Read moreRead less
Bushfire safety improvements for rural electricity networks using hybrid fault detection incorporating distributed observations of travelling waves. Electrical faults in distribution networks can result in catastrophic bush fires. The existing fault detection methods are known to be incapable of detecting many faults. This project will develop improved protection methods that detect travelling waves produced by dangerous faults such as fallen lines and vegetation contacts.
Electrical insulation diagnostics for high voltage power cable systems based on voltage excitation at very low frequency. High voltage power cable systems rely on their insulation to withstand very severe electric stress without breakdown. Field testing of cables at normal frequency is not feasible, but with very low frequency excitation from mobile sources such testing is possible. The overarching aim of this project is to develop methods for interpretation of results from such measurements. It ....Electrical insulation diagnostics for high voltage power cable systems based on voltage excitation at very low frequency. High voltage power cable systems rely on their insulation to withstand very severe electric stress without breakdown. Field testing of cables at normal frequency is not feasible, but with very low frequency excitation from mobile sources such testing is possible. The overarching aim of this project is to develop methods for interpretation of results from such measurements. It is intended that this will enable formulation of appropriate test procedures and better assessment of insulation conditions in service-aged cables. Also of considerable significance to fundamental research will be the project’s goal of a better physical understanding of insulation material behaviour when subject to very low frequency electric stress.Read moreRead less
Stability Assessment of Australia’s Future Electrical Grids. This project aims to identify important conceptual gap in the understanding of inherent coupling between synchronous and non-synchronous generation systems, with a focus on potential adverse effect due to their fundamentally different underlying physical principles. New discoveries in physical properties and dynamic couplings will be applied to provide a more accurate representation of system dynamics under low system strength conditio ....Stability Assessment of Australia’s Future Electrical Grids. This project aims to identify important conceptual gap in the understanding of inherent coupling between synchronous and non-synchronous generation systems, with a focus on potential adverse effect due to their fundamentally different underlying physical principles. New discoveries in physical properties and dynamic couplings will be applied to provide a more accurate representation of system dynamics under low system strength conditions, revealing root causes of different instability phenomena. Expected outcomes include a suite of models for future electrical grids, improved knowledge about how renewable units respond to various system disturbance, a platform for dynamic simulation and novel tools for stability assessment.Read moreRead less
Development of smart power transformers with intelligent monitoring, diagnostic and life management systems. Failure of a large transformer can cause a blackout to thousands of customers and this project aims to develop a smart diagnostics system for transformers. The developed system will provide a comprehensive tool for providing accurate decisions on operation and maintenance of transformers to safeguard the critical energy infrastructure of Australia.