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Development of a Conceptual Framework for Resilience Assessment of Smart Energy Systems
In the era of climate change and growing global energy demand, smart energy systems have become pivotal in ensuring sustainable, efficient, and reliable energy delivery. These systems, characterized by the integration of advanced metering infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and innovative demand response technologies, form the backbone of modern energy strategies aimed at reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy security. The Swiss Confederation, cognizant of these imperatives, advocates for a robust transition towards intelligent energy networks, setting the ambitious goal of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. As we push the boundaries of energy system innovation, the imperative of resilience cannot be overstated. Resilience in this context refers to the smart energy system's capacity to anticipate, withstand, and recover from various forms of disruption like environmental phenomena, technical failures, or human-induced events. This project acknowledges the complexity and interdependence of the smart energy ecosystem, encompassing residential buildings equipped with the latest in energy-efficient technologies, user interfaces that allow for dynamic interaction with the energy grid, and decentralized renewable energy generation units that contribute to a sustainable energy mix.
Electric vehicles (EVs), Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, and domestic appliances represent significant loads within the residential sector that can be managed to foster resilience. The bi-directional flow of energy in smart grids, facilitated by smart meters, allows for sophisticated energy management strategies that not only respond to system demands but also to user behaviors and preferences. The resilience of such an interconnected system hinges on its ability to maintain stability and operation despite unpredictable renewable energy generation patterns, potential cyber-physical threats, fluctuations in the energy market due to instability in the neighboring countries, and changes in user behavior. The Swiss energy paradigm provides an exemplary context for studying and enhancing the resilience of smart energy systems. By developing a conceptual framework for resilience assessment tailored to this context, this thesis aims to contribute to the body of knowledge that will empower stakeholders to design, implement, and maintain robust energy systems.
Keywords: Resilience Assessment; Smart Energy System; Extreme social events
The project will aim to create a comprehensive conceptual framework that can assess and quantify the resilience of smart energy systems. The framework will consider the interdependencies between system components and the ability of the system to maintain functionality during and after disturbances. The envisioned steps for the project are as follows:
1) Literature Review: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature on smart energy systems, with a focus on resilience assessment methodologies.
2) Framework Development: Develop a conceptual framework that integrates various components of smart energy systems and establishes indicators for resilience.
3) Data Collection: Gather and analyze data on residential energy systems, including user behavior patterns, system performance, and environmental impacts.
4) Case Study Implementation: Apply the conceptual framework to a case study involving a smart energy system as described in the background.
5) Validation: Validate the framework using simulated scenarios to assess the resilience of the system under different stress conditions.
6) Documentation: Document the entire process and findings in a comprehensive report.
The project will aim to create a comprehensive conceptual framework that can assess and quantify the resilience of smart energy systems. The framework will consider the interdependencies between system components and the ability of the system to maintain functionality during and after disturbances. The envisioned steps for the project are as follows: 1) Literature Review: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature on smart energy systems, with a focus on resilience assessment methodologies. 2) Framework Development: Develop a conceptual framework that integrates various components of smart energy systems and establishes indicators for resilience. 3) Data Collection: Gather and analyze data on residential energy systems, including user behavior patterns, system performance, and environmental impacts. 4) Case Study Implementation: Apply the conceptual framework to a case study involving a smart energy system as described in the background. 5) Validation: Validate the framework using simulated scenarios to assess the resilience of the system under different stress conditions. 6) Documentation: Document the entire process and findings in a comprehensive report.
Some of the key insights that can be derived from the data and the project:
1) How can resilience in smart energy systems be conceptualized and measured?
2) What are the critical components and interdependencies in a smart energy system that affect its resilience?
3) How do different stress scenarios impact the resilience of smart energy systems?
4) What strategies can be implemented to enhance the resilience of these systems?
Some of the key insights that can be derived from the data and the project: 1) How can resilience in smart energy systems be conceptualized and measured? 2) What are the critical components and interdependencies in a smart energy system that affect its resilience? 3) How do different stress scenarios impact the resilience of smart energy systems? 4) What strategies can be implemented to enhance the resilience of these systems?