• Energy Research

In the realm of India's smart cities, precise meter readings are essential for effectively managing domestic energy and water systems. Nevertheless, meter reading employing conventional techniques prove to be both costly and time-consuming, especially considering the vast user base and deficit of everyday consumption analysis. To cope with this challenge, the proposed solution introduces a novel unified wireless smart metering system for measuring energy and water usage. This prototype harnesses the smart, advanced metering technology to manage energy and water resources. The presence of data and remote control capabilities in smart distribution transformers offers distribution operators the chance to optimize system operation and control. The innovative system proposed utilizes smart metering technology and incorporates a distribution system self-healing mechanism against power outages, revolutionizing the way utilities manage water and energy consumption. The system not only offers real-time consumption statistics to the utility provider but also provides the flexibility to remotely control the system's turn-on and turn-off functions. The system effectively captures real-time data, transmits it via LoRa to Telegram application. The system automatically re-establishes remote connections in the event of disconnections caused by emergency conditions or non-payment of the bill, once the relevant issue has been resolved. Additionally, the system promptly notifies authorities on overload, over-temperature, and instances of electricity theft. The system proficiently generates bills based on the consumed data and seamlessly transmits the consumed units to the authorities. The innovative system proposed has proven its ability to communicate effectively, yielding results that align with the given circumstances.

AbstractThe idea of integrated hybrid renewable energy systems (IHRES) is gaining attention for electrification of rural areas where on‐grid electricity supply is uneconomical. From this point of view, the technical and economic feasibility analysis is carried out for a standalone IHRES in a remote area of Malnad region in Karnataka, India. Solar and wind energy are the prominent renewable resources available in the selected area for study. In the present study, lithium‐ion, lead‐acid and zinc‐bromide batteries effect on “PV‐WT‐DG‐Battery” system is examined and compared. The control strategies used in the study are “load following (LF)” and “predictive dispatch (PD).” The simulation results reveal that the “cost of energy (COE)” and “net present cost (NPC)” are found to be low in zinc‐bromide batterybased system with “PD control strategy.” The NPC and COE are found to be $55 262 and $0.35 per kWh for optimal system. Zinc‐bromide batteries are best suited for remote electrification with less load demand. The sensitivity analysis shows that there is a minimal effect on the performance of the planned IHRES upon variation in the “inflation rate,” “discount rate,” and “diesel price.”