University Campus Hybrid Microgrid with PV, Wind, BESS and Diesel Backup: PowerFactory Techno-Economic Validation

Topic scope and research objective

A suitable research question is: how can the Microgrid & Smart Grid approach represented by “Design and Techno-Economic Validation of a University Campus Hybrid Microgrid with PV, Wind, BESS and Diesel Backup Using DIgSILENT PowerFactory” be evaluated using DIgSILENT PowerFactory so that renewable-energy fraction and grid / diesel energy contribution are improved or maintained without creating unacceptable degradation in BESS throughput and SOC compliance?

This article approaches Design and Techno-Economic Validation of a University Campus Hybrid Microgrid with PV, Wind, BESS and Diesel Backup Using DIgSILENT PowerFactory from a methodology perspective so the page answers a different research need rather than repeating the main project description.

Technical focus

• campus load, PV, wind, BESS and diesel network architecture
• grid-connected and islanded operating scenarios
• renewable utilization, BESS dispatch and diesel-backup coordination
• voltage, reliability, energy-balance and techno-economic validation

Model architecture and implementation plan

The workflow should remain modular enough to support baseline comparison, sensitivity testing and parameter revision.

• Campus load profiles
• PV and wind generation
• BESS and converter interface
• Diesel backup generation
• Grid / islanding interface
• Energy, reliability and cost post-processing

Recommended methodology

1. Build the campus network and representative load/resource profiles. Relate the step to the Microgrid & Smart Grid objective and record the relevant parameters.
2. Validate load flow and component ratings. Relate the step to the Microgrid & Smart Grid objective and record the relevant parameters.
3. Define BESS dispatch and diesel-backup logic. Relate the step to the Microgrid & Smart Grid objective and record the relevant parameters.
4. Run normal, peak, renewable-rich and outage cases. Relate the step to the Microgrid & Smart Grid objective and record the relevant parameters.
5. Calculate electrical, reliability, energy and techno-economic comparison metrics. Relate the step to the Microgrid & Smart Grid objective and record the relevant parameters.

Study cases for comparative research

• normal campus-day load profile
• high-renewable / low-load period
• peak-demand period with BESS dispatch
• islanded or grid-outage case with diesel backup
• seasonal / tariff / resource sensitivity case

Outputs and quantitative validation

The recommended validation evidence includes renewable-energy fraction, grid / diesel energy contribution, BESS throughput and SOC compliance, voltage-quality compliance. A defensible result section should report both waveform or field behaviour and numerical metrics, with the baseline and proposed cases evaluated under the same conditions. The final discussion should also explain sensitivity to peak-demand period with BESS dispatch, islanded or grid-outage case with diesel backup.

• Campus bus voltages and loading
• PV / wind / BESS / diesel power balance
• BESS SOC and throughput
• Grid-import / backup-energy profile
• Reliability and techno-economic indicators

PhD and journal research extensions

• multi-objective sizing of PV, wind and BESS with reliability constraints
• degradation-aware storage dispatch in lifecycle economics
• resilience valuation under grid outages
• scenario-based uncertainty analysis for load, tariffs and renewable resource

For PhD researchers and postgraduate scholars working internationally, this topic can be adapted to a university proposal, published reference paper or independently defined research gap. The model scope can be aligned with the required software version, parameter set, dataset, disturbance profile, geometry, controller structure and reporting format while preserving reproducibility and clear technical attribution.

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