A team of researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Rourkela has created an advanced control system designed to autonomously manage electricity generation from solar, wind, and battery sources. This pioneering “hybrid microgrid” is intended to supply a clean and reliable power source to rural regions lacking access to conventional electricity networks.
The core objective of this research is to minimize reliance on fossil fuels and to extend electricity access to remote areas that remain unconnected to the main power grid. The results of this significant study have been documented in a paper published in the esteemed journal IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, co-authored by Prof Arnab Ghosh alongside Prof Krishna Roy, Assistant Professors in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Ananya Pritilagna Biswal, a research scholar at NIT Rourkela.
Globally, hybrid microgrids are under investigation, integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind power with battery storage. However, achieving seamless integration has proven to be complex and susceptible to fluctuations. The NIT-Rourkela team has devised a dynamic power management scheme (PMS) that facilitates coordinated interaction among all energy producers and storage systems. This innovative control method allows for safe and efficient energy storage in batteries, thereby enhancing their storage capacity and lifespan while decreasing overall costs.
By automatically adjusting converters based on the most readily available resources—solar energy during the day and wind, biomass gasifier (BMG), and pico hydropower (PH) throughout various times—the system maintains a balanced flow of active power across multiple loads.
“This project emphasizes power management across diverse sources, loads, and storage systems,” stated the NIT researchers. “Energy management techniques in renewables-integrated microgrids not only provide social benefits through reliable electricity access, particularly in remote communities, but they also foster sustainable development, generate local job opportunities, and enhance living standards. Moreover, they reduce dependence on fossil fuels, boost energy security, and promote community resilience by offering cleaner, more affordable, and equitable energy solutions.”
In addition to microgrid applications, the proposed system is also poised to be beneficial in electric vehicle charging stations and independent renewable energy systems.
