An avant garde argumentation of quality-of-service via low-cost cloud-based smart microgrid solution: A rural India perspective

Abstract

This paper presents a low-cost enhanced solution to improve the quality of service at the tail-end of the grid-connected network in India where supply is sporadic or highly interrupted. The solution is a renewable energy based microgrid system that augments the sporadic grid power supply and uses a cloud based intelligence-enabled system to provide reliable supply to consumer at the tail-end of the grid. In this paper we propose, a Microgrid Control Centre (MGCC) that uses a low-cost PIC controller which handles the load management based on dynamic or scheduled inputs communicated to the MGCC through a Microgrid Communication Centre (MGComC). The MGCC receives this input from the cloud, derived from computations performed on the various parameters by rule engine. Such parameters include weather, availability of renewable generation sources, feedstock for biogas etc. Additionally, MGComC performs the data acquisition and the communication to the cloud. This communication is made possible through a GPRS shield for the MGComC microcontroller. The Village Weather Station (VWS) monitors weather related permanents that are critical to the forecasting of renewable energy generation. These weather parameters are sent from the VWS to the MGComC. The data acquired is committed to the cloud where the analytics are performed.