Resilient Distribution System Microgrids
Project overview
In Canada, rural and remote communities face challenges with weak grid connections and reliance on diesel generation, leading to high costs and carbon emissions. This project aims to address these challenges by leveraging microgrid solutions to offer higher reliability and lower carbon emissions. Existing microgrids are typically custom-designed and lack standardization for utility use, presenting barriers to their widespread adoption.
This project proposes the creation of microgrid reference designs for electric utilities in various sectors, incorporating distributed energy resources like renewables, energy storage, demand response and electric vehicles.
The goal is to develop comprehensive reference designs using commercial equipment for a microgrid-in-a-box solution, potentially leading to large-scale pilots. This approach seeks to fill the technology gap and contribute to the electrification and decarbonization of resilient communities.
Key project details
| Principal investigator | Bala Venkatesh, professor and academic director, Centre for Urban Energy, Toronto Metropolitan University |
Co-principal investigators |
Mohammadreza Arani, assistant professor, Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University; Atafeh Mashatan, associate professor, Information Technology Management, Toronto Metropolitan University; Jennifer McArthur, associate professor, Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University |
Research collaborators |
Lukas Swan, professor, Mechanical Engineering, Dalhousie University; Pragasen Pillay, professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University |
| Non-academic collaborators | Hydro One Networks Inc. |
| Research Keywords | Distribution feeders, distributed energy resources, renewable energy, microgrid control, grid-connected microgrid, off-grid communities, islanding operation, microgrid reliability, microgrid resilience, microgrid operation, microgrid components, community decarbonization |
| Budget | Cash: $200,000 In-Kind: $48,000 |
Research focus
Enhancing energy reliability and resilience in rural and remote communities
This project seeks to transform the way microgrids are perceived and utilized, particularly in rural and remote areas. The aim is to shift from custom-designed, application-specific microgrids to a more standardized, utility-grade solution that can be more easily and cost-effectively deployed. This transition not only aims to improve the reliability and resilience of energy supply in these communities but also seeks to make microgrid technology a mainstream solution for utility providers.
Standardization of microgrid design and equipment
A key goal of the project is to overcome the challenges associated with the lack of standardization in microgrid design and equipment. By developing comprehensive reference designs for microgrids that utilize commercially available equipment, the project intends to facilitate the design, development, and deployment of microgrids for utility purposes and their customers.
Technical and socioeconomic solutions for decarbonization
The project will focus on the development of a "microgrid-in-a-box" solution using existing commercial equipment. This solution aims to integrate various types of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and incorporate protection and control measures, ensuring that microgrids can operate as complete, self-sufficient systems. Performance targets include improving energy supply reliability, reducing carbon emissions by displacing diesel generation, and assessing the economic viability of the proposed solution compared to conventional microgrids.
Non-academic partners
Thank you to our non-academic partners for your support and trust.
