Ajman University

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

ELE477: Smart Grid & Renewable Energy

Project: "Role of Microgrid and smart metering to enhance

grid performance and energy reliability"

Name: Mohamed Maher Kandel ID: 201912007

Mark Obtained Maximum Mark

Instructor: Dr. Ahmed Bilal Awan

Friday 5/5/2023

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Contents

Introduction:.........................................................................................................................3

Theoretical background: ...............................................................................3

What is the importance of the microgrid:..........................................................................4

How the microgrid improves energy reliability:................................................................4

How does the microgrid enhance grid performance:.........................................................5

Smart metering: ...............................................................................5

Smart metering can enhance grid performance:...............................................................6

Smart metering improves energy reliability:.....................................................................6

Microgrid & Smart metering: ...............................................................................7

Conclusion: ...............................................................................7

Reference: ...............................................................................7

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Introduction:
The main power grid always wants to make sure there are no interruptions or
problems when delivering electricity to consumers. One way to do this is by using
microgrids which can improve the reliability and efficiency of the grid. Smart
metering is also helpful because it provides important information that can be used to
optimize the microgrid and improve the overall performance and reliability of the
grid.

Theoretical background:
A microgrid is where each group of loads is in a specific geographical area so that a
small network is formed. Usually, when we talk about microgrids, we talk about a
low voltage level. This grid must have energy sources, whether renewable or non-
renewable. It works with the main grid and can be disconnected. If this is verified, I
can say this is a microgrid system or we can say that the microgrid is Distributed
power sources and distributed loads that are connected and work as one unit, define
their energy limits, and work completely independently of the main grid. It is based
on renewable energy resources such as (P systems and wind energy that provide green
energy to the load and not nearly green energy there are other sources like a diesel
generator however, almost all the output power from the grid is clean energy.

A method known as smart metering checks power use in real-time and gives
companies precise data. Consumers can also control their energy use, get full
data on their consumption, and pay less for energy.

It is for measuring electrical consumption and allows bidirectional

communication between the load and any power source, whether it is a
microgrid or the main grid. The data that Smart Metering provides to the grid
is very important in terms of energy, such as energy consumption data, power
quality data which is the power Bing delivers to consumers, and outputs data

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 and load profiles. All these things lead to improved energy efficiency and
enhanced grid reliability.
Smart metering and microgrid grids Both have a significant effect on
improving energy efficiency and enhanced energy reliability in a way that you
can carry on your own in an emergency or your condition.

What is the importance of the microgrid:

Microgrids are of high importance in the energy field because they can cover a
small area suitable for their limited capabilities, which may be able to cover
some buildings and large institutions, sometimes they have their microgrid,
like most large hospitals and companies. It has many benefits, both in terms of
energy and in terms of finances. It helps improve resilience by having the
advantage of operating completely independently of the main grid, which
makes it able to continue providing energy to the customer even in the event
of a power outage or other problems. This benefit alone can save millions of
sums of money that are wasted through power outages due to some problems,
for some large companies, even a few minutes drain a lot of money however, it
reduces a lot of energy losses because it produces electricity locally This
indicates that the local transmission and distribution of energy inside the grid
are dependent upon each other, and this will significantly enhance energy
efficiency.

How the microgrid improves energy reliability:

The ability of the power system to consistently deliver the required amount of
electricity to people without interruptions or faults that could result in issues or
disruptions is called energy reliability.
The use of local generation sources, such as renewable energy sources or
diesel generators, can help the microgrid to increase reliability in several
ways. They can monitor the energy that is used to know which areas require

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 high demands by advanced metering to meet load requirements and determine
the equipment's condition and effectiveness.
It also reacts quickly to power outages by isolating the affected area so that the rest of
the areas are not affected and covering the area with electricity using the grid's energy
stored in batteries or by generating electricity using diesel generators while the power
is an outage.

How does the microgrid enhance grid

performance:
There are also moments when power usage increases quickly or significantly,
leaving the main grid subjected to excessive consumer electrical usage or
overload. When the main grid's failed coverage of some areas leads the
microgrid to take over during periods that have high consumption, the
microgrid's function is to help the main grid by reducing pressure on it by
having the ability to operate independently from the grid.
Microgrids use a variety of locally generated, environmentally suitable
renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce their
reliance on fossil fuels and help the environment. Energy confiscation,
however, is not green, its cost is not set, and it isn't available in any country.
Well
It also increases the efficiency of the main grid by reducing energy losses and
using techniques that help monitor the energy consumed by the customer and
techniques to check equipment continuously. to avoid any problems with the
equipment.

Smart metering:
The smart meter is separate from the regular meter device and is located in the
home of every consumer to measure and record the electrical

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 Figure (1): Single-phase smart meter.

use of the house and it can record the electrical energy that is given to the grid
if the owner of the house has a small microgrid that produces more energy
than his consumption so he can exploit the excess electricity from his
microgrid and sell it to the grid, all of this is taken over by the smart meter.
The smart meter can also receive data from other meters and records.

Smart metering has many benefits that are in the interest of the company as
well as in the interest of the consumer. In terms of the grid, it increases energy
efficiency through some details that it records and gives alert signals to the
grid in case of overload and improves reliability by protecting against power
outages or the number of hours of a power outage. The grid can also avoid
many losses through it and determine if there is a problem. As for the
consumer, through smart metering he can rationalize consumption and benefit
from who can sell the energy of the grid if he has a small microgrid in his
house, he measures in two directions, measures the customer's consumption,
and measures the energy sold to the grid.

Smart metering can enhance grid performance:

Smart metering has changed the way we manage energy consumption and power
delivery. By leveraging data analysis techniques, smart meters have enabled utilities
to optimize their operations and improve grid performance in several ways. For
example, smart meters allow for more precise monitoring of energy usage, which can
help identify opportunities for conservation and efficiency. Additionally, by checking
on the health of equipment, utilities can proactively replace or modify components,
reducing the risk of unexpected failures and outages. With these capabilities, smart
metering has emerged as a crucial tool for improving the reliability and resiliency of
the grid, ultimately benefiting both utilities and customers alike.

Smart metering improves energy reliability:

Smart metering has many benefits that improve power reliability. With smart
metering, the utility grid can respond faster and have access to real-time data, which
is more accurate. This data is used to make decisions that improve the overall
performance of the company. Smart metering can detect power outages and report
them at the same time, allowing the utility to take necessary actions to fix the
problem quickly. By knowing the condition of the equipment in advance, smart
metering helps protect them and informs the grid utility of their condition in real-
time. All of this makes smart metering one of the main reasons for improving the
reliability of the company, especially during times of high demand. The Grid utility

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 can use the data collected by smart metering to make important decisions and prevent
future problems.
Without smart metering, the grid could face several problems. One of these is limited
visibility. This means that the utility company would not be able to collect enough
data on energy consumption and demand. As a result, it would be difficult for them to
optimize the grid's performance, which could lead to more power outages and
unsatisfied customers. Additionally, without real-time reporting of problems, such as
equipment failures or outages, the utility company may not be able to address issues
promptly, which could result in longer outage times and more significant impacts on
customers. Inefficient load management could also be a problem without smart
metering, making it difficult for utilities to prevent overloads and maintain a stable
energy supply. Finally, without the ability to monitor equipment health in real-time,
utility companies may need to rely on reactive maintenance, which can be costly and
time-consuming, leading to longer outage times and reduced energy reliability.

Microgrid & Smart metering:

Smart metering and microgrids are interconnected in their aim to improve the
reliability and performance of the grid. Smart metering provides valuable data that is
used by microgrids to work efficiently and reduce losses. This is particularly
important for the main grid as microgrids serve as an alternative solution during
emergencies, increasing the overall reliability of the grid. By using smart metering,
the grid is better prepared for any potential power outages or issues and can provide
high-quality electricity to meet the needs of the load.

Conclusion:
In summary, after discussing the significance of microgrids and how they can benefit
the main grid, we can conclude that having multiple microgrids can be more helpful
during power outages and for supplying renewable energy. Additionally, the use of
smart metering can improve the efficiency of the main grid and enhance its reliability
by providing the necessary data.

Reference:
1- Livera, A., Theristis, M., Makrides, G. and Georghiou, G.E., 2019. Recent
advances in failure diagnosis techniques based on performance data analysis for grid-
connected photovoltaic systems. Renewable energy, 133, pp.126-143.
2- Flath, C., Nicolay, D., Conte, T., van Dinther, C. and Filipova-Neumann, L., 2012.
Cluster analysis of smart metering data: An implementation in practice. Business &
Information Systems Engineering, 4, pp.31-39
3- Wu, H., 2006, May. PMU impact on state estimation reliability for improved grid
security. In 2005/2006 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and
Exhibition (pp. 1349-1351). IEEE

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4- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVK6eseBcjQ.