Integrating Renewable Energy into
Power Networks smart grid, microgrid or off-grid
Graham Ault
Low Carbon Energy for Development Network Conference
4th/5th April 2012
Overview
• Brief outline of renewable grid
integration challenges
• Overview of smart grid research
and development
• Link to ‘Energy for Development’
• Case studies in Malawi:
– Community based solar PV
– Scoping study for
community/renewable energy
development
• Topics of Interest in Energy for
Development
Problems that the smart grid might be
the answer to …
Interconnect.
System
Management
Generation
Renewables
Active
Management
Transmission
+
Energy
Storage
Distribution
+
Smart
Metering
Smart
Appliances
Demand
+
Advanced
Automation
EV
MicroGen
Responsive
Control
Offshore
Grids
Large system
coordination
Scheduling
Electric heating
Gas + Heat
networks?
… delivering efficient, lower carbon, better, quicker,
cheaper solutions?
Smart Grid Functions …
Snap shot of the smart grid domain …
Snap shot of the smart grid domain …
Scottish Government Community
Energy Scoping Study: Malawi
 Several drivers pushing energy higher
up agenda in Malawi: fuel costs,
climate change agenda, role of
electricity in economic development
 Primary aim of government policies,
strategies and investment plans is
development of grid generation and
extension of the grid
 Biomass missing from energy policies
and investment plans - accounts for
97% of energy use in Malawi
 Institutional framework for energy
development is sound but resource
constrained
Scottish Government Community
Energy Scoping Study: Malawi
• Community energy development trials
underway with various technologies and
approaches but in uncoordinated
manner
• Climate change policy and renewable
energy policy not complete and Malawi
not exploiting opportunity of international
frameworks (e.g. GEF, CDM, etc.)
• Current situation not providing
conducive framework for donor or
private investment in energy
Example Project: Off-Grid Community Solar
PV in Malawi
• 6 Community Energy Committee trained and empowered
• 8 installations with lights, AC power, fridges (6 villages with 8 school and
health post pilot installations in Malawi
• 100 mini home solar units distributed/sold in Malawi – more on the way
• 6 x 10 member Energy Committees elected, trained and established for over
2 years in Malawi
• Support chain of field worker and local project management
• Building evidence base for sustainable model through monitoring &
evaluation
Topics of Interest in EfD / grids
• Field-evaluation of technology: grid, storage, renewables integration
solutions
• Engineering ‘optimisation’ of system design, operation and asset
monitoring/stewardship
• Smart grid, micro-grid and off-grid solutions
• Standards for off-grid and small scale energy
• Sustainable models for off-grid community energy solutions
• Academic partnerships (research, teaching/training programmes,
government/industry collaborations)
• Impact assessment (technological, sociological, economic)
• Potential to ‘leap frog’ grid solutions in development situations
Graham Ault
Institute for Energy and Environment
Department of Electronic and Electrical
Engineering
University of Strathclyde
g.ault@eee.strath.ac.uk