Renewable Energy - Smart Grids

The energy transition is often associated with objectives for implementing means of production based on renewable energies (wind, solar, hydro, etc.). The use of intermittent sources creates particular constraints for electricity transmission and distribution networks. This teaching unit will consist of three parts: a technological and theoretical section on networks; a second section on production methods and renewable energies, with a focus on wind energy; and finally, a third section on the digital evolution of electricity networks: smart networks and smart grids.

This teaching unit will:

• Define the technology of all components of a high-voltage and low-voltage electrical distribution network.
• Provide the knowledge necessary to understand the functions and characteristics of electrical networks (architectures, overhead, underground, voltage levels, power ratings, transformers, alternators, etc.) and
• Allow the selection and implementation of devices according to requirements (insulation, protection, control, etc.).
• Define electrical safety rules for interventions, thereby enabling understanding and application of lockout procedures.
• Enable the determination, selection, and adjustment of protections based on network and equipment characteristics by explaining fault current calculations and the basic use of professional calculation software.
• Detail the choice of grounding schemes that meet specific specifications and economic criteria, availability constraints, quality requirements, etc.
• Provide an overview of the current state of the art in electrical energy storage and present the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier associated with electrical energy and the energy transition.
• Describe the means of production and develop the principle of conversion for wind and hydroelectric power generation.
• Introduce methods for studying wind power projects, analyzing resources, regulations, connection issues, and environmental impact.
• Introduce smart grids and the use of the internet and industrial networks in the protection and control of electrical networks.

The objective of this teaching unit is to enable students, by the end of the course, to have assimilated the definitions, functions, and characteristics of electrical networks and their components (production, transmission, protection, and control elements, etc.). Students will be able to calculate the characteristic electrical quantities of the network and its equipment. They will be able to select and adjust measuring devices and protection devices according to needs and constraints. They will be able to propose architectures adapted to a given protection plan or grounding scheme. Students will be able to size, select, and protect a distribution transformer, calculate and verify the hourly index, and propose parallel connection arrangements. They will learn about the composition, structure, and characteristics of synchronous and asynchronous generators.

Students will be familiar with the various storage solutions and will know their main characteristics. They will be able to size (in terms of power, service life, etc.) the appropriate storage system and will be able to choose or propose monitoring and protection methods (e.g., BMS: Battery Management System).

Students will be able to identify the different means of production that exist, along with their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. They will be able to explain and calculate the principles of wind and hydraulic energy conversion. They will be able to carry out a wind power project study (resource study, regulations, grid connection) and will be able to integrate environmental issues relating to the design of wind turbines and the installation of wind farms.

Finally, they will have knowledge of smart grids and intelligent networks and will be familiar with key terms, definitions, and examples of implementation.

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or science and technology with courses on the basic principles of electrical engineering (sinusoidal waveforms, transformers, etc.).

Have knowledge of the basic concepts of mathematical tools for studying sinusoidal waves (complex calculations, Fresnel representation, trigonometry).

Have knowledge of the basic principles of how electrical machines work.

Continuous assessment teaching unit. Exam and study project.

1. Introduction to energy: general information. Transportation and distribution of electrical energy. Quality of electrical energy. HV and LV network architectures. Electrical diagram symbols. Equipment – Electrical safety, lockout procedures. Short-circuit calculation and network protection. Grounding diagrams – Architectures – Personal protection. Transformers: technologies, characteristics, hourly indices, parallel connection, protection. Generators: technologies, characteristics, parallel connection, protection.
2. Electric energy storage. Batteries. Fuel cells – Hydrogen production. Inertial storage.
3. Means of production: Introduction and general information. Thermal, wind, hydraulic, marine energy, photovoltaic, biomass, cogeneration. Principles of energy conversion in wind turbines. Principles of conversion in hydraulic power plants. Conversion architectures.
4. Wind power project. Case study (wind, software, etc.). Regulations governing intermittent production: wind power. Issues surrounding grid connection. Carbon footprint and eco-design.
5. Smart Grids. Definitions - Examples of architectures. The Internet in smart grids.

CM: 33 hours