Project owners: Dr. Justin Pradipta, Institut Teknologi Bandung , Anaïs-Marie Celestine Berkes, University of Cambridge
Solar power is increasingly being used in a variety of formats and purposes. For example, solar energy can be used to produce electricity, which can then be stored in large-scale batteries, or can also be used directly to heat water (in colder climates) or charge electric vehicles. Many countries such as Indonesia and the UK allow the use of microgrids with local electricity generation and storage, although bidirectional EV charging is not yet supported in the UK. As solar energy is more widely used, the complexity of micro-grid systems is becoming better understood. There is a complex balance between the amount of electricity that can be generated, the energy demands on the system, and the storage capabilities. There is also often a mis-match between the time of day when the electricity is generated and the time when it is needed.
The research teams in Bandung and Cambridge are each addressing different aspects of this complexity in the following ways.
The ITB team has developed a control system comprising hardware and software which is able to dynamically optimise the use of the battery storage, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the solar microgrid and minimising energy costs. Their software algorithm models the system components and optimises each component’s working processes.
The Cambridge team has focused on the initial planning of solar energy systems, and developed an algorithm to take information about planned usage and user habits and optimise the sizing decisions. This currently includes decisions on the number of solar panels and the battery capacity needed. The next version will also provide recommendations on optimal roof placements, taking into account other features such as trees and chimneys.