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Design and optimal sizing of renewable energy-powered water microgrids
Recently, microgrids have been recognized as a promising solution to tackle the rising number of power outages caused by extreme weather events affecting our cities and communities. These conditions, frequently induced by climate change, result in effects that go beyond damage to the energy infrastructure. The water systems are equally vulnerable to extreme weather events (including droughts caused by heat waves and floods), affecting the supply of clean water, the treatment of wastewater, and the management of stormwater. Recognizing the similarity of electricity and water microgrids, the project proposes to create a unified framework for renewable energy-powered water microgrids using concepts from electricity microgrids.
Keywords: Modelling, water supply, water and energy security
Task description:
1. Data collection and analysis: gathering data on water demand patterns and available water
sources and potential renewable energy generation (solar & wind) for selected locations.
2. Load estimation: development of a (generic, scalable) model to relate water demand, energy
production, and system components (e.g., pumps, storage tanks, treatment facilities). If time
allows, include energy storage in the model.
3. Optimal sizing of the water microgrid: adapting the previously developed model for the purpose of this study; objective function formulation: minimize cost and/or maximize the reliability of a water microgrid.
4. Sensitivity/robustness of the model: assessment of how changes in parameters (e.g., energy prices, water demand) affect the optimal size of the microgrid.
5. Analysing the findings, discussing strengths and weaknesses of the method and deriving
recommendations in a report.
Task description: 1. Data collection and analysis: gathering data on water demand patterns and available water sources and potential renewable energy generation (solar & wind) for selected locations. 2. Load estimation: development of a (generic, scalable) model to relate water demand, energy production, and system components (e.g., pumps, storage tanks, treatment facilities). If time allows, include energy storage in the model. 3. Optimal sizing of the water microgrid: adapting the previously developed model for the purpose of this study; objective function formulation: minimize cost and/or maximize the reliability of a water microgrid. 4. Sensitivity/robustness of the model: assessment of how changes in parameters (e.g., energy prices, water demand) affect the optimal size of the microgrid. 5. Analysing the findings, discussing strengths and weaknesses of the method and deriving recommendations in a report.
This project aims to develop a model epresentation of a local renewable energy-powered water microgrid. This model will complement the ongoing research on decentralized energy systems, which
is the focus of the Chair. The model will be used to analyse how such a RE-water microgrid can be
optimally sized and operated according to different boundary conditions such as RE and water supply as well as energy and water demand.
This project aims to develop a model epresentation of a local renewable energy-powered water microgrid. This model will complement the ongoing research on decentralized energy systems, which is the focus of the Chair. The model will be used to analyse how such a RE-water microgrid can be optimally sized and operated according to different boundary conditions such as RE and water supply as well as energy and water demand.
Proposal_watermicrogrids.pdf
