V. S. K. Murthy Balijepalli

Deployment of MicroGrids in India

The MicroGrid concept using renewable energy sources is a building block towards the future energy networks for long-term viable solution of energy needs. The focus of the paper is centred around the encountered and foreseen issues, enabling technologies and economics for encouraging the deployment of MicroGrids in India. This paper presents state-of-the-art issues and feasible solutions associated with the deployment of MicroGrid technologies leading to the conceptualization of efficient and smart MicroGrids. The role of enabling technologies, automation and communication for sustainable development of MicroGrids is also explained here.

Towards Indian Smart Grids

India is struggling to meet the electric power demands of a fast expanding economy. Restructuring of the power industry has only increased several challenges for the power system engineers. A major chunk of the power losses is a direct derivative of the poor management of distribution networks. Distribution automation (DA) has been aimed at reducing losses, and improving reliability and financial viability of state utilities. Firstly, this paper presents various benefits achieved by major Indian utilities in transitioning towards automation. Enroute to the proposed vision of introducing viable Smart Grids (SG) at various levels in the Indian power systems, it is recommended that an advanced automation mechanism needs to be adapted. This is then projected to be feasible through invariable dependance on several open standards, whose integration for interoperability, flexibility, scalability, modularity and vendor neutrality is deemed pivotal. Various examples of existing structures of automation in India are employed to underscore some of the views presented in this paper. Finally, a potential SG architecture for Indian power systems is proposed with a discussion on its implications.

SmartGrid initiatives and power market in India

SmartGrids were introduced to make the grid operation smarter and intelligent. SmartGrid operations, upon appropriate deployment can open up new avenues and opportunities with significant financial implications. SmartGrids can continue towards enhancement of power market. The current status of the power market as well as initiations of SmartGrids in India are studied to scrutinize the potential power market enhancement with the advent of SmartGrids. This paper presents various SmartGrid initiatives and implications in the context of power market evolution in India.

Towards usage of CIM in Indian Power Sector

India is moving on the path of rapid growth and restructuring with ever changing regulatory environment. There is a direct impact of this changing structure of power sector on system operation. New roles and responsibilities have to be taken up involving co-ordination with various external utilities. Standards based integration of systems and applications has become imperative. This paper provides an up-to-date report on the various initiatives and standardization activities in Indian Power Sector. The objective of the paper is to present the requirement and scope of standardization from the perspective of regional load despatch center (RLDC). Various applications used by RLDC and their data exchanges to perform its functions are described. A set of application usecases are then developed which document the data exchange requirements. Development of these usecases is the first step in adoption of common information model (CIM) and identification of necessary CIM extensions suitable for Indian scenario.

An Effective Model for Demand Response Management Systems of Residential Electricity Consumers

An effective demand response (DR) model framework for DR management systems in a residential premise is proposed. The proposed model consists of dynamic price signals from load serving entity (LSE), benefit function, and loss of consumer comfort. The conventional approaches generally consider these factors as independent in their formulation. Since these factors have functional relationship, the proposed model points to a holistic approach to capture the relationship. The scheduling model can be integrated with the home energy scheduler coupled to the smart meter, which facilitates the flow of dynamic price and energy consumption information to and from the household premise. The objective is to maximize net consumer surplus, which is formulated as a function of all aforementioned factors. A method for developing a practical and dynamic consumer benefit model for matured DR programs is proposed in this paper. For the purpose of showing the effectiveness of dynamic benefit function, a set of analytically formulated benefit functions is also considered. The suitability of the dynamic benefit function, as compared with other alternatives, is illustrated with an example. This paper also reports the dynamic price design from the view point of LSE, in order to cover the risks of wholesale price volatility.

Smart and sustainable energy systems for developing countries: An Indian perspective

India is a highly diverse country with regard to its electrification status, covering all from well developed cities to rural areas without access to electricity. It has identified renewable energy sources as the long-term solution for future energy and progressing in the direction of electrifying the unreachable pockets. In this context, paper accumulates the prospects of sustainable energy and off-grid options, rural electrification, SmartGrids and various policy and regulatory affairs of India. The role of existing technologies, automation, and communication for sustainable development is explained. A roadmap to fulfil the urban and rural needs for sustainable future is presented.

Online Assessment of Voltage Stability in Power Systems with PMUs

*Corresponding author: V.S.K. Murthy Balijepalli, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400076, India, E-mail: vsk@ee.iitb.ac.in Prasad Bhagwat Chitare, Field Computation Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400076, India, E-mail: prasad.chitare@gmail.com S.A. Khaparde, Field Computation Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400076, India, E-mail: sak@ee.iitb.ac.in

Novel approaches for transmission system expansion planning including coordination issues

Transmission power flows are dependent on physical laws. Transmission system expansion planning (TSEP) of a transmission utility in the deregulated environment becomes complex. It has been identified that utilities mainly perform planning to serve the needs of their own customers within a defined service territory. However, there needs to be a coordination with the neighboring transmission utilities in a proper manner. This may be for laying of inter utility lines or for laying cross territorial dedicated lines. Multiple transmission expansion plans can be obtained for any utility. Firstly, this paper introduces the concept of commonality which defines the core content of multiple plans, giving insight for identifying ranking of new lines with their relative urgency for execution. A sequence for identifying reinforcements in the transmission network under short term TSEP is then proposed. This process uses various indices based on technical studies. An illustration of the proposed approach on a modified Garvers test system is presented. Later, using the concept of “commonality” and their formulations, a coordination strategy for planning between different utilities to identify new lines for laying is developed and discussed.

Virtual synchronous generators as potential solution for electricity Grid compliance studies

Concept of Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) to control inverters for emulating synchronous generator characteristics in grid integration of distributed energy resources (DER) is an emerging research area. Such distributed generators with diesel primeovers also have to comply to different electricity grid codes where Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) is a key requirement. VSG and LVRT are two independent topics, and has not been simultaneously studied. VSG approach to LVRT for grid compliance studies especially when connected in parallel to the diesel generators has not yet been explored. This has wider potential industrial applications in the paradigm of Smarter Grids. Considering the above, this paper presents the state-of-art literature review of the VSG and LVRT requirements in the changing grid (smart) environment. Further, analytical modeling of control of VSG for LVRT is presented for better understanding of the subject under discussion. Preliminary simulations established that the VSG as a potential solution for grid compliance studies. Finally, some future trends and challenges in the application of this technology in grid compliance studies, particularly as a solution for LVRT, are discussed to motivate future contributions.

Effect of cost related parameters on optimization of Zero Net Energy Buildings

Zero Net Energy Buildings (ZNEB) are most opted for effective energy conservation measures. The major milestone in building ZNEB is the large number of parameters on which energy consumption depends. This paper studies the effect of cost related parameters on optimization of ZNEB. Effect of cost of appliances on the optimized parameters is investigated. Opensource softwares are explored for the simulation studies and extended modules are built for integrating retail tariffs/OpenEI to the engines. Simulations are carried out with different utility rates and tariff system, and a comparison is made. ZNEB potential in developing countries like India is further discussed and observations are presented.