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Curtin University
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Centre for Smart Grid and Sustainable Power Systems

The Centre for Smart Grid and Sustainable Power Systems focuses on fundamental and applied research to develop advanced knowledge in electrical power engineering. It focuses on developing enabling technologies in smart grid, innovative solutions for challenges in grid connection of renewable, smart home energy management networks and systems, ICT and Communication technologies applications to distributed automation and control, stochastic capacity estimations of renewable energy sources, power electronics applications in power systems, distributed generation and renewable energy technologies. The aim of the Centre is to develop innovative, reliable and quality solutions to provide both utilities and policy makers with technology options to deliver economical and sustainable energy to customers.

The Centre for Smart Grid and Sustainable Power Systems will be hosting the first IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Asia Conference, November 13-16, 2011 in Perth, Australia.

The Conference, sponsored by the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and Curtin University, will be a forum for the participants to discuss state-of-the-art innovations in smart grid technologies. The Conference features special sessions and tutorials by international experts on smart grid applications and will cover but not limited to the following topics:

  • Smart Grid Standards.
  • Regulatory Aspects, Smart Grid Economics and Market Operations.
  • Cyber and Physical Security Systems, Information Technology and Communications.
  • Advanced Metering Infrastructures, Demand Response.
  • Greenhouse Gas Abatement, Energy Efficiency, Home and Building Management.
  • Integration of Renewable and Intermittent Distributed Energy Resources.
  • Integration of Storage and Grid Solutions for Electric Vehicles.
  • Reliability, Asset Management, Intelligent Monitoring, Distribution System and Outage Management.
  • Advanced Simulation and Energy System Planning.
  • Prosumerism, Customer Behaviour and Attitudes, End User Benefits, Technology and Market Diffusion.

Please visit our website:www.isgtasia2011.com

Today's power system is being transformed by an overlay of digital communications and control technology. The new grid is intelligent, self healing and self optimising. The Centre has significant activities in Smart and Sustainable Grid applications and technologies through its programs in "Smart Grid" and "Sustainable Power Systems" that support the following goals:

A) Smart Distribution:

  • Distribution System Automation;
  • Advanced Meter Infrastructures and Smart Metering Interfaces;
  • Intelligent Distribution Devices (distribution level FACTS);
  • Distribution Power Quality (Remote monitoring and control, intelligent custom power devices);
  • Distribution Reliability (stochastic solutions);
  • Smart Rural Feeder-Smart Grids for feeder capacity and quality improvements for rural Australia;
  • Grid codes and compatibility (Stability, voltage and frequency ride through).

B) Smart Vehicle and Energy Storage for Reliable Grid ProgramRenewable

  • In home Display
  • Home Area Network
  • Energy Efficiency and intelligent appliances
  • Plug-In Electric Vehicles
  • Active Demand Side Management

C) Renewable and Distributed Generation:

  • Wind systems (control of machines and large wind farms, systems integration with respect to reliability, stability and power quality);
  • Distributed solar systems (High penetration distribution modelling, distributed maximum power tracking, integrated storage);
  • Combined heat and power, (CHP), tri-generation with fuel cells and gas micro-turbines;
  • Large scale energy storage and distributed storage aggregation.

D) Diagnostics and Monitoring of Assets:

  • Self Healing and restoration techniques
  • Intelligent and remote monitoring
  • Asset Management
  • Remnant Life Estimation and Strategic Loading of Assets
  • Dynamic Loading of Transmission Lines and Transformers

E) ICT Enabled Intelligent Power Systems:Board

  • Smart Distribution Automation
  • Smart Grid Communication Infrastructure
  • Smart Grid Security (cyber attack, SCADA ...)
  • Standard Development and Interface
  • System Optimization (load forecasting, mixed electronic & market models, smart load management)