Faridah Hussin

Improving the MW-Mile Method Using the Power Factor-Based Approach for Pricing the Transmission Services

The MW-Mile method is an embedded cost pricing method, which is widely used to determine transmission pricing. The method is formulated based on the distance and active power flow in each line of the transmission network. This method may be considered as the first pricing strategy proposed for recovering the fixed transmission cost, based on the actual use of the transmission network. However, this method suffers from the provision of unfair charges to the users, since it ignores the quality of the load in allocating the transmission cost. This paper proposes an improved MW-Mile method by considering not only the changes in MW flows but also the quality of the load, i.e., the power factor. In this study, the IEEE 14-bus system was used to illustrate the contribution of the proposed method in allocating transmission cost to the user in a fair manner.

Modeling and simulation of grid connected Photovoltaic System for Malaysian climate using Matlab/Simulink

The impact of solar irradiance, ambient temperature and clearness index on the outdoor performance of poly-crystalline (poly-Si) PV modules is considered. This paper highlights the effect on the energy output by changing the clearness index for the Building Integrated Photovoltaic System (BIPV) in Malaysia. Simulation was implemented using MATLAB/SIMULINK and results are compared with the actual monitored data. A case study was presented for a 45.36 kWh system using poly-crystalline module and results show that the energy output differs from 7.23% to 8.52% with clearness index of 0.55 and hence clearness index also influenced the energy output besides solar irradiance and temperature.

Residential electricity time of use (ToU) pricing for Malaysia

In Malaysia, Time of Use (ToU) pricing is applied on commercial and industrial electricity customers but not on residential customers. Residential pay a fixed/flat electricity price for every kWh they consumed disregarding the time of use. Many argued that imposing similar ToU pricing scheme on residential customers may only benefit the customers but not the utility since residential already consume more power during off-peak hours. This paper analyses the impact of imposing residential ToU pricing on utilitys electricity cost by using a simple test system consisting of 3 loads each representing industrial, commercial and residential load profile. The results show that residential ToU pricing able to reduce the electricity cost provided that the residential peak and off-peak hours are properly selected.

Identification building energy saving using Energy Efficiency Index approach

Energy can be reused or saved instead of simply wasted by implementing strategic planning. In commercial building, energy consumption varies due to various factors such as building design, climate, load usage, type of electrical appliances, and management. Since each room in a building is designed to accommodate certain number of occupant, the room capacity is also considered as one of the factors that affect energy consumption. However, by placing inappropriate number of occupants in a room, the optimum use of energy cannot be achieved. For an example, energy may be wasted if the room that is designed for 200 occupants is only occupied by 98 people. In response to this concern, energy saving can be made by shifting or reconfiguring the number of occupant to make more suitable room. This strategy is called as a class shifting method. It can minimize electricity usage by simply shifting occupants into an appropriate room which is design nearly for that amount of capacity. This paper presents evaluation on class shifting strategy in term of its ability in reducing energy consumption. The study was conducted on selected building in Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) by using Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) reading as a baseline in determining how much energy is being wasted as well as being saved. The result from the application of shifting method showed a significant number of energy saving that can be made.

Time of Use pricing for residential customers case of Malaysia

Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing is a rate of prices depending on time period, which having high electricity tariff at peak demand period and lower tariff at off-peak period. In Malaysia, a flat tariff is applied on residential customer disregard the time of use. Simple TOU pricing is applied on industrial and commercial customers where they pay lower tariff for the electricity used during night time and higher tariff for daytime usage. This to encourage the customer to shifts their electricity usage from peak demand period (daytime) into low demand period (night time). The same TOU pricing cannot be implemented to residential customers since their load is already low during daytime but high during night time (8pm-12pm). This paper studies the TOU prices required for residential customers to make a significant impact on peak demand reduction. Practical load profile data from Malaysian residential and commercial customers are used as a case study. The result shows a significant price difference between the peak and off-peak hours are required to ensure the effectiveness of such pricing.

Efficiency optimization of an induction machine using optimal flux control

This paper presents the efficiency optimization of a variable speed induction machine (VSIM) using an Optimal Flux Control (OFC). To optimize the efficiency, an approach called as Maximum Torque per Ampere (MTA) algorithm was used to provide the constant optimal flux (COF) during the speed control, where the minimisation of the winding losses is considered along the operation. In this paper, the total power and total power loss during machine motoring is presented. The performance of the proposed OFC design is compared with the conventional open-loop scalar-control (OLSC) method. From the finding, it was found that the COF approach provides better performance than the OLSC in terms of settling time, steady-state error and efficiency.

Charge of transmission usage and losses in pool electricity market

This paper reviews different approaches on allocation of transmission usage and losses among the pool markets participants. Different pricing methods are also investigated to cover the total transmission system cost as well as charge for transmission losses among network utilities. Results of 5-bus system are reported to show the recovery of the total transmission cost as well as allocation of losses among users in pool electricity market.

A method for evaluating energy saving potential in lighting from daylight utilization

Daylight-linked lighting control systems can provide substantial savings in rooms with daylight availability. Energy saving potential from daylight utilization depends on several parameters of the room. Different methods to predict energy savings from daylighting exist. This paper aims to develop a new method that is easy to apply yet comprehensive, and gives a good indication as to the potential of energy saving from daylight utilization. The process is described step by step along with results from applying the method in a simulated test project as an example.

Comparison between predicted and measured generation output of a photovoltaic farm

The generation of electricity through solar Photovoltaic (PV) is still new in Malaysia. Major obstacle for investors to invest in solar PV project is the high capital cost in addition to the uncertainty of the electrical power that can be generated by the PV. There are available software that can be used to predict the PV energy output. Since the output depends on solar radiation, the predicted results will have some errors. It is important for investor to know the value of the error to justify their investment in PV project. A 5 MWp solar PV power generations located in Northern Malaysia is used in the study to compare the predicted and measured PV generation output. The predicted output is simulated by using HOMER software while the measured output is obtained from recorded measured data. The error between predicted and measured generation output will be measured analyzed.

Transmission loss allocation based on harmonic factor distortion in deregulated electricity supply industry

This paper proposes a new method to allocate the cost pertaining to the transmission loss due to harmonics. The proposed method which is called Generalized Harmonic Distribution Factor uses the principle of proportional sharing method to allocate the losses among the transmission users. A simple 5-bus system is used to compare the proposed method with Pro-rata and Z-bus methods. The results show that the proposed method provides a better economic signal in allocating the cost of transmission loss, which could encourage the users to minimize the losses.