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Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Smart Grid

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    Energy demand and trading optimization in isolated microgrids
    (IEEE, 2020-04-30) Chidzonga, Richard; Gomba, Masimba; Nleya, Bakhe
    Future generation or smart grid (SG) will incorporate ICT technologies as well as innovative ideas for advanced integrated and automated power systems. The bidirectional information and energy flows within the envisaged advanced SG together with other aiding devices and objects, promote a new vision to energy supply and demand response. Meanwhile, the gradual shift to the next generation fully fledged SGs will be preceded by individual isolated microgrids voluntarily collaborating in the managing of all the available energy resources within their control to achieve optimality in both demand and distribution. In so doing, innovative applications will emerge that will bring numerous benefits as well as challenges in the SG. This paper introduces a power management approach that is geared towards optimizing power distribution, trading, as well as storage among cooperative microgrids (MGs). The initial task is to formulate the problem as a convex optimization problem and ultimately decompose it into a formulation that jointly considers user utility as well as factors such as MG load variance and associated transmission costs. It is deduced from obtained analytical results that the formulated generic optimization algorithm characterizing both overall demand and response by the cooperative microgrids assist greatly in determining the required resources hence leading to cost effectiveness of the entire system.
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    Secured smart grid network for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
    (SAIIE, 2016-02) Khumalo, Zephania Philani; Nleya, Bakhe
    Smart Grids are generally modern electric power network technology systems used by power utility to optimise the efficiency of power supply. While it is good practice to introduce Smart Grid technology, the use of digital technology introduces security threats on Smart Grid systems. Smart Grids mostly have a sophisticated network arrangement which may be exploited to access private information and private sensitive data therefore there is a need to secure it. Energy theft and the metering information are amongst the biggest fears related to the Smart Grid application. This paper will discuss Smart Grid security technology challenges and possible effective solutions. Particularly overcoming Smart Grid security challenges, a robust communications protocol that will implement security functionalities is required. The solution aspect should include but not be limited to encryption of messages, minimizing delays due to cryptographic processes and guaranteeing integrity of these messages with negligible latency. Smart Grid is a part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and the whole network need to be secured. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) will be implemented to enhance security of this network. Using OPNET and Java NetBeans 8.2 complier it will be proven that the AES or modified AES will best serve the Power Line Communications (PLC) Smart Grid security challenges.