Towards Sustainable Development Based on University Microgrids

Electricity is indeed a fundamental element of contemporary society, and the transition towards ensuring clean and affordable electrical energy is one of the present challenges. This transition has proved to progress slowly, primarily due to the challenges associated with integrating renewable distributed energy resources (DERs). For instance, weather changes can dramatically impact the amount of peak power supplied on any given day. Microgrids are a promising concept that can help address these challenges, and many studies can be found in the literature that focus on implementing these complex systems. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the specific subject of using the infrastructure of universities as a proof-of-concept. This paper aims to help fill this gap by reporting the case study of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), in Brazil. The paper summarizes the current research in the local microgrid of UNICAMP, and shows its potential to boost sustainable development by decarbonizing universities, as a practical contribution beyond their educational value. The main components of the system are described, and the presented numerical results show how at least 33% of the campus’s monthly electricity consumption can be reduced. This proves that real-world microgrids can have a positive impact, not only on greenhouse gas emissions reduction but also on the overall system efficiency.