Fuel savings in remote Antarctic microgrids through energy management

• Published in: 2018 53rd International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC)
• Main Authors: Saner, Can Berk, Skarvelis-Kazakos, Spyros
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 2018
• Subjects: G0575 Arctic and Antarctic regions; T0059.5 Automation; TD0172 Environmental pollution; TJ0163.13 Power resources; TJ0163.26 Energy conservation; TJ0212 Control engineering systems. Automatic machinery (General); TJ0807 Renewable energy sources; TJ0810 Solar energy; TJ0820 Wind power; TJ0828 Wind turbines; TK0452 Electric apparatus and materials. Electric circuits. Electric networks; TK1001 Production of electric energy or power; TK3001 Distribution or transmission of electric power; TK4001 Applications of electric power; TK4601 Electric heating; Antarctic; Arctic; SANAE; SANAE IV; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/77403/; http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/77403/1/PID5406535.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1109/UPEC.2018.8541935

Research stations in the Antarctic have their own electrical generation facilities and are not interconnected to any grid. Scarcity of fuel and unavailability of interconnection characterize these Antarctic energy systems as mission-critical isolated microgrids. In this work, an energy management strategy has been proposed for South African Antarctic research station SANAE IV for improving fuel efficiency. The proposed strategy consists of optimal dispatch of generation and installation of a thermal load controller for the supply side, and a novel demand response scheme for the demand side. The system was simulated using HOMER Microgrid Analysis Tool. Results showed an 8.30% decrease in fuel consumption, which corresponds to 21,876 litres of diesel annually. These savings can be achieved without major capital expenditure or difficult engineering work.