Networked Microgrids: Exploring the Possibilities of the IIT-Bronzeville Grid

TLDR

Bronzeville, a diverse Chicago neighborhood with key civic and educational institutions, offers an ideal setting for developing advanced electric power services through a community microgrid. The study proposes the Bronzeville Community Microgrid as a backbone for a future sustainable community, aiming to demonstrate Chicago’s potential as a smart city. The microgrid will deploy fault‑interruption automation, multiple distributed energy resources, and a battery energy storage system adjacent to photovoltaic panels to localize outages and smooth renewable variability. The battery storage system effectively improves power quality at customer sites.

Abstract

Bronzeville is a community located in the city of Chicago that features a diverse historic district with essential city services, residential housing, and educational institutions. The Bronzeville neighborhood houses the headquarters of the Chicago Police and Fire Department, De La Salle Institute, Illinois College of Optometry, Boulevard Care Center, Chicago Public Library, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Bronzeville Nursing and Living Center, Chicago Military Academy, Pentecostal Church, Perspectives Math & Science Academy, and other institutions. The area provides an ideal location for the continued refinement and development of advanced electric power services, which can be demonstrated through the implementation of a community microgrid: the Bronzeville community microgrid (BCM). The BCM is the backbone of a planned community of the future, where residents and critical facilities enjoy a sustainable environment and utilize innovative smart grid products. The BCM can serve as a pilot project for demonstrating the merits of instituting Chicago as a smart city. Distribution automation devices capable of fault interruption and sectionalization will be strategically deployed so that a fault would only result in a local outage rather than an interruption to the entire area. The BCM operation will comprise several types of distributed energy resources (DER s). A battery energy storage system (BESS) located in close proximity to photovoltaic panels provides an effective means to mitigate the variability of renewable energy. The BESS is also effective in improving the power quality at customer sites.