Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$3,250.00
Fuel cell hybrid schemes for renewable flex power generation
FY 2010-11
Summary
Global concerns relating to the uncertain cost of fossil fuels, energy security, and environmental sustainability have brought ""green"" alternatives to the forefront of the energy sector. Canada's commitment to reduce green house emission by 20% by 2020 requires fast incorporation of renewable power in the electricity distribution system. Distributed and intermittent renewable energy sources including photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines, fuel cells, and ocean tidal generators require energy conversion and storage technologies to transform raw unregulated power into quality power needed to supply stand-alone AC loads and inject power into the grid uninterruptedly. The main technical challenges associated with successful integration of renewable power are intermittency, stability, power flow control, power quality, utilization, and efficiency. When two or more power sources are combined in a hybrid system to mitigate intermittency effects and improve stability, further technical challenges arise from their interactions, resulting in the need for reliable coordinated operation.
The goal of the proposed research program is to investigate and develop a flexible power architecture that combines fuel cell technologies and intermittent renewable sources to produce uninterrupted power generation. The program targets research and development, and final implementation of a flexible, reconfigurable power conversion system that concentrates on definitive technical challenges associated with intermittency, interactions, need for elastic scalability, and control for coordinated operation. As a result, the program will provide valuable and timely technical solutions to incorporate multiple hybrid renewable sources to mitigate green house emissions. Anticipating the high demand for engineers in renewable power, the program would help to train highly qualified personnel and deliver graduates with strong R&D skills to the province and the country. The research program fits into the government's strategy on science and technology by helping to accelerate the deployment of renewable power. As well, it meets NSERC's objectives by bringing originality and innovation to address one of the most pressing and challenging areas in modern society.
Program
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Recipient
Location
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
386574-2010
Name nom
Ordonez, Martin
Department département
Engineering Science, School of
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
3250
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1510
Committee name en
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie électrique et informatique
Area of application code
303
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Alternative energy resources
Area of application fr
Autres ressources d'énergie
Research subject code
2517
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Industrial and power electronics
Research subject fr
Électronique de puissance et électronique industrielle
Partie
1
Nb partie
5
Application title
Fuel cell hybrid schemes for renewable flex power generation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Global concerns relating to the uncertain cost of fossil fuels, energy security, and environmental sustainability have brought ""green"" alternatives to the forefront of the energy sector. Canada's commitment to reduce green house emission by 20% by 2020 requires fast incorporation of renewable power in the electricity distribution system. Distributed and intermittent renewable energy sources including photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines, fuel cells, and ocean tidal generators require energy conversion and storage technologies to transform raw unregulated power into quality power needed to supply stand-alone AC loads and inject power into the grid uninterruptedly. The main technical challenges associated with successful integration of renewable power are intermittency, stability, power flow control, power quality, utilization, and efficiency. When two or more power sources are combined in a hybrid system to mitigate intermittency effects and improve stability, further technical challenges arise from their interactions, resulting in the need for reliable coordinated operation.
The goal of the proposed research program is to investigate and develop a flexible power architecture that combines fuel cell technologies and intermittent renewable sources to produce uninterrupted power generation. The program targets research and development, and final implementation of a flexible, reconfigurable power conversion system that concentrates on definitive technical challenges associated with intermittency, interactions, need for elastic scalability, and control for coordinated operation. As a result, the program will provide valuable and timely technical solutions to incorporate multiple hybrid renewable sources to mitigate green house emissions. Anticipating the high demand for engineers in renewable power, the program would help to train highly qualified personnel and deliver graduates with strong R&D skills to the province and the country. The research program fits into the government's strategy on science and technology by helping to accelerate the deployment of renewable power. As well, it meets NSERC's objectives by bringing originality and innovation to address one of the most pressing and challenging areas in modern society.
