The development of a “smart grid” is a hot topic in
the energy industry. The basic idea is that modern technologies can assist in
routing electricity efficiently and economically from the power being generated
to the areas where it’s in demand. Smart grids enable power from multiple
sources, such as wind farms, rooftop solar panels, hydroelectric dams and large
coal-fired power plants. A part of the smart grid is a little like a set of
traffic signals that help move power where and when it’s needed; more power can
be generated and distributed when demand is high and electricity flow can be
reduced or sent into next-generation storage devices when demand is low.
Long Zhao, Ph.D., assistant professor of electrical
engineering and the director of the Smart Grid and Energy Research Lab at Mines,
says there is a great deal of effort underway right now to build the technology
and infrastructure needed to run smart grids, but he says one thing is missing
from current research. “We need to study the human factor. The most important
part of the equation is people, and we are trying to understand human behavior
to help build the most robust and fully functional smart grid models,” Zhao
says.
The
National Science Foundation is funding
Zhao’s research with a
grant totaling $198,740.00 over the next two years.. The research will analyze
systemwide data to better understand Members’ needs.
Zhao
gives credit to his partners at West River Electric Association (WREA) and
Elevate Rapid City. He says the support from WREA and Elevate Rapid City is
immensely valuable and helps all organizations advance their initiatives.
“The
cooperation of our partners is really essential here for the success of this
research. If we can understand people’s patterns of electricity use, we can
build better systems to meet their needs and save them money. This kind of work
has the potential to save an average power company or utility provider millions
per year,” he says.
“With
the rapid growth of data in the utility space, having the resources at Mines is
immensely valuable for advancing our understanding of WREA's distribution
system,” says Sean Bestgen the lead power engineer at WREA and a Mines alumnus.
“This study will not only help the Cooperative save money but also contribute
to WREA’s spirit of innovation.”
Zhao is collaborating with fellow researcher Zhiyong
Yang, Ph.D., the department chair of marketing at Miami University who is
helping translate the human behavioral data in this study.
“We
understand multiple factors can influence human behavior and the demand for
electricity and this study will help us build better infrastructure in the
future,” says Zhao.
He says the research will include surveys of members
to match data trends with members’ thoughts on their own energy usage patterns.
He hopes the research will give the group a peak into understanding of how
consumer trends might change as rooftop solar grows. He says this decentralized
system of power generation turns the average energy consumer into a producer of
electricity. “Rather than consumers we call them prosumers, as they are both
producers and consumers of electricity.”
In some parts of the United States and in other
countries, this decentralized system of energy generation is increasing the
resiliency of the grid to extreme conditions.
Zhao says modeling human behavior so this data can
be added to the future design of new smart grids, rooftop solar and other
decentralized renewable energy could become even more affordable, efficient and
environmentally sustainable.
He adds that this research would not be possible
without earlier funding from the South Dakota Board of Regents though a
competitive research grant. Zhao add that university support though the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science has also been essential in this success.