Intelligent Grid

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Intelligent Grid Distributed Energy (DE)Social
Dimension
C S I R O Energy Transformed Flagship

• Diane Costello Research Fellow
• Prof Daniela Stehlik Project Manager
• Alcoa Research Centre for Stronger Communities
• June, 2008

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Disciplinary Background

• Community Psychology Curtin Notre Dame
  Universities
• Rural Indigenous communities.
• health, mental health, racism, discrimination
  crime, community sustainability, policy /program
  evaluation.
• CSIRO - IG Energy Transformed project
• Social Scientist human, socio-political
  economic implications - LEDE systems.
• Sustainable Energy Feasibility of DE solutions
  for SMEs in rural communities

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National Study IG DE

• EMBED - climate change human, social, political
  change - GHG mitigation. My ROLE?
• Intelligent Grid (IG) DE -Terry Jones, LEDE
  Theme Leader, CSIRO Energy Flagship, NSW.
• research-halving GHG emissions doubling
  efficiencies -new generation technologies.
• future vision for an electricity network in
  Australia - DE resources play a critical part!
•  IG using information, communications and
  control technologies to integrate the electricity
  network with DE resources.
• DE distributed/decentralised generation use of
  energy.

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CSIRO University Partners1.Technological2.Econ
omic3.Social
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DE Stand Alone or Connected Main Grid
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Distributed Energy DE

• distributed (decentralised) generation and use
  of energy.
• POWER produced at or near point- consumption.
• DE small-scale stationary modular technology
  located close to consumer.
• Distributed Generation -unit sizes few kW to
  multi MW - under 30MW.
• DE Resources Sources fossil fuels, renewables,
  fuel cells.

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DE Technologies

• Reciprocating engines
• Micro turbines
• Fuel cells
• Energy storage
• PV, wind, solar thermal, hydro
• Waste heat recovery
• Heating, cooling, electricity
• Demand side management
• Communications and control

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DE Systems Energy Sources

• DE Resources
• power quality backup primary source.
• E-Sources Combined other Technologies promote
  efficiencies reduce GHG emissions.
• Denmark decentralised cogeneration
  (CHP/Combined Heat Power) systems (natural gas
  engines, small biomass combusters)-
  local/municipal owned.
• POLICY reduced risks to investors CHP,
  renewables and waste-to-energy projects priority
  access-main grid.

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Council of Woking Burrough, Surrey

• 1990s- mini Heat Power Stations thousands PV
  cells on roofs.
• 2004 - 80 energy
• GHG emissions - 77.

• DE networks Woking Town Centre Woking Park
  district number of residential local community
  energy systems - based on CHP, fuel cell,
  photovoltaic, thermal storage heat fired
  absorption cooling technologies.

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3 micro turbines - power heating (hot water,
pool, spas) INTELLIGENT CONTROLS(Fuzzy Logic,
Neural Networks) optimize performancegrid
Isolation- outage
CHP- Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton, Indiana
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Summary - DE Systems

• GENERATE power, heat cooling - locally stand
  alone or connected to the grid
• Existing emerging technologies under 30MW!
• INTEGRATE - variety sources gas tech.
  renewables, traditional generation.
• COMPLEX heating, cooling powering a
  commercial building.
• Integrating solar panels, microturbines, fuel
  cells main grid electricity.
• GAS from animal waste -cooking!
• Complementary Efficiency Emissions!

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Advantages of DE

• Infrastructure Decreased need to size
  transmission networks for peak loads
• Economics reduces costs of transmission
  distribution system upgrades.
• Efficiency No transmission losses from DE
• New generators - added in weeks
• Capacity - added as needed
• Waste heat - used for heating cooling gains
  energy efficiency (30 to 80)
• Sustainability Renewable sources often better
  suited for small size DE (solar, biofuels)
• Consumer potential lower cost, higher service
  reliability, high power quality, increased energy
  efficiency, energy independence.

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Evaluating Deployment of DE

• CONSENSUS -positive benefits DE
• Costs, Barriers - Drivers!
• Costs Environmental, Social, Political, Economic
  Community Interests at Stake?
• Barriers Connection costs - High!
• High costs of Technology discourages
  investment!
• Limited access, awareness subsidies, grants!
• Policy, Regulations Market access
• Human Behaviour Economic Growth-sustainable
  actions?
• Drivers Climate Change Emissions Trading
  Soaring energy prices Energy Crisis!
• ISSUES holistic perspective Deploy DE!

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Outcomes of National Research

• Increase understanding of real benefits of DE
  options
• Clearer evaluation of value of DE options
• More effective public debate on the role of DE
  options
• More streamlined and consistent considerations of
  DE options in policy

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Goals of this Research

• Social Implications- LEDE deployment -
  sustainable energy climate change.
• FOCUS evaluating feasibility DE resources
  within SMEs sector.
• RECRUIT -key informants stakeholders!
• PROCEDURES interviews focus group discussions.
• KEY ISSUES 
• Reliability of energy supply?
• Increase in Energy Demands?
• What DE options -currently available?
• The Barriers?
• Community acceptance?

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PROCEDURES - PARTICIPANTS

• CASE SCENARAIOS DE technologies being deployed
  in SME sector - Evaluate its feasibility!
• Ethics Confidentiality notes
  password-protected computer. Member
  Verification.
• DATA - de-identified confidential!
• Human Research Ethnics committee.
• Discussions - Research focus procedures?  
• THANK YOU FOR LISTENING