Research

My current research focuses on

• Integration of Distributed Low-Carbon Technologies (i.e., photovoltaics, electric vehicles and storage)
• Stochastic impact assessment of EV, PV and Storage network integration
• Coordinated control of Low-Carbon Technologies to actively manage technical problems in distribution networks
• Active Network Management (Smart Grids)
• Operation and planning of future distribution networks
• Analytical techniques to assess network hosting capacity of solar PV

Increasing PV Hosting Capacity in Distribution Networks: Challenges and Opportunities

The cost reduction in residential-scale PV systems has led to the rapid adoption of PV systems in distribution networks. Whilst this is beneficial to the customers and environment, the resulting reverse power flows from multiple PV sites might lead to voltage rise and asset congestion issues, on both low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) networks. Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) in Australia and around the world have generally adopted two approaches to deal with these issues: time-consuming and expensive network solutions (i.e., reinforcing the existing network) or simply restricting additional PV system installations.

On the other hand, non-network solutions might provide fast, cost-effective alternatives. For instance, customer-owned controllable elements (i.e., PV and/or Battery Energy Storage (BES) systems) could be managed to mitigate technical issues. It is therefore crucial to understand the challenges Distribution Network Operatiors (DNOs) are facing in evaluating the growing penetrations of PV systems in their networks and how computational simulation models and techniques can help overcome these.

Given these challenges, my research (and not limited to), focuses on the development of novel non-network approaches that leverage existing network and customer-owned assets to mitigate technical issues and therefore increase the ability of distribution networks to host additional low-carbon technologies.

Energy Self-Sufficient Communities and their Opportunities

The rapid adoption of small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in low voltage (LV) networks combined with the falling prices of residential-scale battery energy storage (BES) systems is paving the way for a future in which communities could locally supply most of their energy needs, hence reducing carbon emissions and their grid dependency (i.e., reduced electricity bills).

This transition towards self-sufficient communities, which entails the adoption of control systems to locally manage generation and storage (to minimize grid imported energy), provides opportunities where these very communities can also become a new source of flexibility at both distribution and transmission and help managing challenges brought by high penetrations of renewables. For instance, technical issues (i.e., voltage and thermal) faced by DNOs due to large penetrations of PV systems could be managed using smart inverter capabilities (e.g., curtailment, reactive power). Similarly, with the aggregated capabilities of storage devices (within communities), balancing services could be offered to the local Energy Market Operator to match generation with demand.

This could reduce not only the use of traditional flexibility providers (e.g., coal/gas thermal plants) but also avoid asset duplication (e.g., large-scale storage facilities), thus reducing carbon emissions and cost.