Micro-Grid Solutions

Smart Renewable Energy Micro-Grid Solutions

Can you build a prototype of an optimized internet-empowered renewable energy micro-grid for housing estates and/or contiguous neighbourhood retail centres?

Solutions will need to be appropriate to the sub-division of the climatic zones of the team (Warm-Humid Equatorial Climate, Tropical Upland Climate, Tropical Composite Climate, etc.) and the renewable energy resources or hybrids that can be deployed to run the micro-grid (Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Wind, Small hydro, Biomass, Biogas, etc.). The scope can also be expanded to integrate housing estates and their neighbourhood retail centres because of the synergy that can result due to time of use.

The skills necessary for an optimal solution will span the fields of Renewable energy resource modeling and statistical analysis of design variables, climatic (or passive) building design strategies, energy demand profiling, end-use energy methodology, building environmental load estimations, selected renewable energy system design, interoperable energy management system, energy storage systems, telecommunications, smart metering, electrical distribution system design, and software engineering.

The top category prize is $1000 for the winning team, and possible tract of purchased virgin land up to 50 acres (depending on location and land prices) for the team to validate their design as a commercial real estate development business in which they will be shareholders in the company.  

To win the top prize, the solution must be worthy of commercial deployment, otherwise the prize of $500 remains for the best academic submission.