About This Project

It is important for Iceland, a model country in renewable generation, to lead by example and set a precedent for developing its electric grid. Our formula for success will be vital to the rest of the world moving towards 2020 and beyond.

This August marks the 10 year anniversary since the 2003 North American blackouts. Many of you can remember this summer. The cause of the second worst power outage in our modern history, that left over 50 million people in the U.S. and Ontario without power for several days, was reported due to a tree branch touching a power line in Ohio... That's all folks. We are hoping to avoid these gaffes in the future with our work.

Ask the Scientists

Join The Discussion

What is the context of this research?

Our planet is entrenched in a global energy crisis, and we need solutions. A template for developing the world's first renewable green battery is proposed and lies in storing electricity across the grid. Iceland generates 100% of its electricity from renewable resources including 73% from hydropower and 27% from geothermal energy. Is it possible to help Iceland become the world's first renewable green battery?

Research indicates high-capacity electricity energy storage (EES) has the potential to be economically beneficial as well as carbon neutral, all while improving power control and quality, dampening load variation, and smoothing out natural fluctuations in renewable energy (RE) sources. The role of EES integration into Iceland’s electricity grid will be explored with primary focus on improving energy efficiency, transmission control, and maintaining infrastructure. Modeling EES configurations and achieving grid optimization will be done using Grid Command^TM software (provided by Battelle) which can digitally analyze distributed energy resources, maximize improvements in voltage control, power quality, and predict future scenarios with electric vehicles (EVs) interactions. It is important to state that we do not intend to overexploit Iceland's renewable resources and ruin it's natural beauty. It is a beautiful country!

Landsvirkjun is the largest energy producer in Iceland, and has helped install the very workable transmission network across the country; therefore the goal here is assessing how best to implement EES devices for storing Iceland’s annual energy surplus of about 10%, all while providing a template for other countries to follow for modernizing their grids.

What is the significance of this project?

With aging infrastructure and renewable energy (RE) generation on the rise, there has never been a more urgent need for a modern electricity grid. Many envision this modernized smart grid based on its capacity to integrate RE sources, being virtually carbon neutral, and featuring improved voltage control, demand response and supply flexibility.

Currently, the leading technology for achieving these modifications rests in grid electricity energy storage. The technology exists today, however the need now is to provide tactical solutions.

Researching EES in Iceland offers many valuable outcomes, and must be used as a template by other countries for improving existing grids. It is important for Iceland, a model country of renewable generation, to lead by example and set a precedent for developing its smart grid. Our formula for success will be vital to the rest of the world moving towards 2020 and beyond.

What are the goals of the project?

Originally when we set out on this idea, the leading-edge technology for digitally modelling our fancy electric grid was the Grid Command^TMDistribution package developed by the brilliant minds at Battelle in Columbus, Ohio. Our university team, without grants, was able to secure a 90-day trial version of the software FOR FREE, however, under licensing agreements, Battelle attached a firm-fixed price for $9,000 to be used for training and technical support. While there are other models for download on the web, such as Balmorel and STREAM, Grid CommandTM Distribution is far more robust and ideal for new-age electricity energy storage applications. Grid Command^TM really offers us the best bang for our buck, so to speak, and would make the University of Iceland the first university in the world to use the program!

Conferences and Airfare: This research has already been accepted to be presented at the Arctic Energy Summit 2013 as well as The International Workshop on Simulation for Energy, Sustainable Development & Environment (SESDE 2013) in Athens, Greece. We plan to attend, proudly, and showcase our research... backed by your tremendously generous contributions.

Thank you.