
Richard WiesUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks · Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Richard Wies
PhD in Electrical Engineering with Electric Power Emphasis
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64
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Introduction
I am currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. My research focuses on distributed generation and load control strategies for improving efficiency, stability, and renewable energy penetration in isolated microgrid systems. I hold senior membership in the IEEE PES and maintain a Professional Engineering License in the State of Alaska.
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Publications
Publications (64)
p>The integration of power electronic converter (PEC)-based renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) and controllable loads in electric power grids is growing exponentially due to increased interest in reducing carbon emissions. However, the uncertainty in DER power output limits their contribution to the overall system reliability and allevia...
p>The integration of power electronic converter (PEC)-based renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) and controllable loads in electric power grids is growing exponentially due to increased interest in reducing carbon emissions. However, the uncertainty in DER power output limits their contribution to the overall system reliability and allevia...
p>In Part I of this work, we presented a three-stage framework for solving stochastic non-convex optimal power flow problems using a parameterized deterministic look-ahead policy and minimizing the cost of scheduling flexibility reserves using blockchain and smart contracts. Here, in Part II, a case study with two balancing authority (BA) areas is...
p>In Part I of this work, we presented a three-stage framework for solving stochastic non-convex optimal power flow problems using a parameterized deterministic look-ahead policy and minimizing the cost of scheduling flexibility reserves using blockchain and smart contracts. Here, in Part II, a case study with two balancing authority (BA) areas is...
Food, energy, and water (FEW) security require adequate quantities and forms of each resource, conditions that are threatened by climate change and other factors. Assessing FEW security is important, and needs to be understood in the context of multiple factors. Existing frameworks make it hard to disentangle the contributors to FEW insecurity and...
Diesel electric generators are an inherent part of remote hybrid microgrids found in remote regions of the world that provide primary frequency response (PFR) to restore system frequency during load or generation changes. However, with inverter-based resources (IBR) integration into microgrids, the IBR control provides a fast frequency response (FF...
Diesel electric generators are an inherent part of remote hybrid microgrids found in remote regions of the world that provide primary frequency response (PFR) to restore system frequency during load or generation changes. However, with inverter-based resources (IBR) integration into microgrids, the IBR control provides a fast frequency response (FF...
Food, energy, and water (FEW) are essential for human health and economic development. FEW systems are inextricably interlinked, yet individualized and variable. Consequently, an accurate assessment must include all available and proposed FEW components and their interconnections and consider scale, location, and scope. Remote Alaska locations are...
The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus describes interactions among domains that yield gains or trade-offs when analysed together rather than independently. In a project about renewable energy in rural Alaska communities, we applied this concept to examine the implications for sustainability and resilience. The FEW nexus provided a useful framework for...
With the increasing effects of climate change and high costs of energy, many rural Alaska communities are working to implement local alternative energy solutions to improve energy security. Integrating renewable energy systems can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and subsequently improve food, energy, and water (FEW) security. In this study, wind en...
Converter-based generators are increasingly replacing classical synchronous generation, resulting in significant challenges to the operation and planning of modern power systems. Power electronics (PE)-based equipment, along with non-linear PE-driven loads, introduce time-varying characteristics and fast switching behavior that increases the comple...
In response to national and international carbon reduction goals, renewable energy resources like photovoltaics (PV) and wind, and energy storage technologies like fuel-cells are being extensively integrated in electric grids. All these energy resources require power electronic converters (PECs) to interconnect to the electric grid. These PECs have...
The food-energy-water (FEW) nexus describes interactions among domains that yield gains or tradeoffs when analyzed together rather than independently. In a project about renewable energy in rural Alaska communities, we applied this concept to examine the implications for sustainability and resilience. The FEW nexus provided a useful framework for i...
The optimization problem for scheduling distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated with the power grid is important to minimize energy consumption from conventional sources in response to demand. Conventionally this optimization problem is solved in a centralized manner, limiting the size of the problem...
Fundamental shifts in the structure and generation profile of electrical grids are occurring amidst increased demand for resilience. These two simultaneous trends create the need for new planning and operational practices for modern grids that account for the compounding uncertainties inherent in both resilience assessment and increasing contributi...
The conventional power distribution network is being transformed drastically due to high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage. The optimal scheduling and dispatch is important to better harness the energy from intermittent RES. Traditional centralized optimization techniques limit the size of the problem and hence distri...
The conventional power distribution network is being transformed drastically due to high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage. The optimal scheduling and dispatch is important to better harness the energy from intermittent RES. Traditional centralized optimization techniques limit the size of the problem and hence distri...
The optimization problem for scheduling distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated with power grid is important to minimize energy consumption from conventional sources in response to demand. Conventionally this optimization problem is solved in a centralized manner, which limits the size of the problem...
The optimization problem for scheduling distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated with power grid is important to minimize energy consumption from conventional sources in response to demand. Conventionally this optimization problem is solved in a centralized manner, which limits the size of the problem...
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are crucial for remote communities operating isolated distribution networks (IDNs) that are transitioning from dependence on diesel generators to renewable energy sources for their energy needs. Since renewable energy sources are variable, these isolated communities still depend on diesel generators during peri...
Alaska has over 200 communities operating remote islanded microgrids that are not connected to each other or to the North American electric grid. These communities range in size from a few dozen to a few thousand residents and rely heavily on fossil fuels--primarily imported diesel--to generate electricity. This has resulted in some of the highest...
This document is a summary of a report prepared by the IEEE PES Task Force (TF) on Microgrid Stability Definitions, Analysis, and Modeling \cite{task}, which defines concepts and identifies relevant issues related to stability in microgrids. In this paper, definitions and classification of microgrid stability are presented and discussed, considerin...
In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the importance of a nexus approach to optimize food, energy, and water (FEW) security at regional and global scales. Remote communities in the Arctic and Subarctic regions in Alaska provide unique examples of closed and isolated systems, wherein the FEW nexus not only needs to be examined to...
In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the importance of a nexus approach to optimize food, energy, and water (FEW) security at regional and global scales. Remote communities in the Arctic and Subarctic regions in Alaska provide unique examples of closed and isolated systems, wherein the FEW nexus not only needs to be examined to...
Modern electric power distribution systems are data rich and include growing numbers of distributed energy resources and distribution automation. To take advantage of distribution automation and manage growing penetrations of distributed energy resources, distribution utilities need applications for planning and operations that use all available da...
Electric thermal storage (ETS) devices can be used for grid demand load-leveling and off-peak domestic space heating (DSH). A high-resolution three-dimensional finite element model of a forced air ETS heater core is developed and employed to create a general charge/discharge model. The effects of thermal gradients, air flow characteristics, materia...
Frequency regulation is critical to the successful operation of remote wind–diesel electrical grids. When the grid is in ‘wind–diesel’ mode, frequency regulation is (classically) the sole duty of the diesel electric generator (DEG). An alternative approach is proposed whereby responsibility for frequency regulation is shared by the DEG and a networ...
Frequency regulation is central to the successful operation of remote wind-diesel powered electrical grids. Use of secondary or 'dump' loads are necessary to allow instantaneous wind generation to exceed grid demand. The present study investigates the feasibility of using a network of Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) units without centralized control...
Isolated hybrid wind microgrids operate within three distinct modes, depending on the wind resources and the consumer grid demand: diesel-only (DO), wind-diesel (WD) and wind-only (WO). Few successful systems have been shown to consistently and smoothly transition between wind-diesel and wind-only modes. The University of Alaska - Fairbanks Alaska...
Mini-grids with high wind contribution tend to be relatively more dynamic and less stable than wind integration in large interconnected grids. This instability is primarily due to frequency fluctuations introduced from highly variable wind generation, multiple single-phase distribution branches with highly unbalanced single-phase loads, large pseud...
The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) seeks to address issues related to operation of wind-diesel hybrid systems in remote Alaska communities, and showcase technologies that have potential for reducing fossil fuel consumption and energy costs. One storage solution is the integration of a battery system. Currently, lead acid batteries have i...
Wind turbine technology has evolved into a unique
technical identity with potential to contribute significantly to the
global energy mix powered by renewables. Wind energy, being a
fluctuating resource, requires tight control management that addresses
stability issues for it to be integrable with the grid system.
Difficulty in controller constructi...
This paper describes an undergraduate or graduate level student project that involves the design of an energy-efficient standalone distributed generation system integrating existing fossil fuel based energy sources with renewable energy sources and smart grid technologies for off-grid communities. One such application is the development of stand-al...
Electric power systems in many remote rural villages generally consist of diesel electric generators (DEGs) serving relatively low and highly cyclical loads the majority of the time. Methods of improving the efficiency and operational lifetime of these systems are to load the DEGs closer to their rated capacity, employ heat recovery and utilize tur...
Dust produced from unpaved roads in rural Alaska is impacting the quality of life in many Alaskan and other villages in cold regions. Not only does dust emanating from unpaved roads cause respiratory ailments, but also impacts subsistence food storage and sources as well as safety since dust impacts visibility on village streets. Loss of fine parti...
Alaska's rural village electric utilities are isolated from the Alaska railbelt electrical grid intertie and from each other. Different strategies have been developed for providing power to meet demand in each of these rural communities. Many of these communities rely on diesel electric generators (DEGs) for power. Some villages have also installed...
Previous adaptive filtering algorithms using the least mean square (LMS) technique for estimating electromechanical modes in power systems imposed constraints arising from the variability and time of convergence of the filter estimates. Also these techniques assumed the power system data to be wide-sense stationary. This work presents a combination...
This paper describes the development of remotely accessible electrical drive sets for hands-on education in electrical machinery, electrical drive and control courses as well as certain aspects of motion control and power electronics. The remote access is provided via the developed client-server communication method using the TCP/IP protocol to run...
Information about the stability of heavily interconnected power systems is found in low-frequency electromechanical modes. This research complements model-based and measurement-based approaches to mode estimation typically requiring much computation and ringdown from a disturbance, respectively. This paper discusses an adaptive step-size least mean...
A variety of techniques have been developed for estimating the low-frequency electromechanical modes of power systems based on the analysis of complex system models, ring downs from a system disturbance, and noise injection signals. This work uses a combination of adaptive filtering and block processing techniques to estimate these modes from ambie...
This paper discusses the development of a hybrid performance analysis tool to study the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and environmental impacts of integrating wind-turbine generators (WTGs) into standalone hybrid power systems. The hybrid performance analysis tool presented incorporates the added features of dynamic modeling and the graphical user interfac...
Summary form only given. Previously, variations of the Yule-Walker techniques have been applied successfully to give point estimates of electromechanical modes of a power system based on measured ambient data. This paper introduces a bootstrap method to give confidence interval estimates for the electromechanical modes. Simulation results from a 19...
This paper discusses the long-term performance and monitoring issues related to integrating a battery bank and a photovoltaic (PV) array into electric power systems for remote villages like those found in Asia and many other parts of the world. The long-term performance tool developed in MATLAB™ Simulink can be used for design, simulation, and opti...
This paper discusses the economic analysis and environmental impacts of integrating a photovoltaic (PV) array into diesel-electric power systems for remote villages. MATLAB Simulink is used to match the load with the demand and apportion the electrical production between the PV and diesel-electric generator. The economic part of the model calculate...
Previously, variations of the Yule-Walker techniques have been applied successfully to give point estimates of electromechanical modes of a power system based on measured ambient data. This paper introduces a bootstrap method to give confidence interval estimates for the electromechanical modes. Simulation results from a 19-machine model show the v...
This paper discusses the economic analysis and environmental impacts of integrating a photovoltaic (PV) array into diesel-electric power systems for remote villages. MATLAB Simulink™ is used to match the load with the demand and apportion the electrical production between the PV and diesel-electric generator. The economics part of the model calcula...
The stability of heavily interconnected power systems is a primary concern in the power utility industry. Accurate knowledge of the low-frequency electromechanical modes in power systems gives vital information about the stability of the system. Current techniques for estimating electromechanical modes are computationally intensive and rely on comp...
This paper discusses the economic analysis and environmental impacts of integrating a photovoltaic (PV) array into diesel-electric power systems for remote villages. Matlab simulink is used to match the load with the demand and apportion the electrical production between the PV and diesel-electric generator. The economics part of the model calculat...
Accurate knowledge of low-frequency electromechanical modes in power systems gives vital information about the stability of the system. Current techniques for estimating electromechanical modes are computationally intensive and rely on complex system models. This research complements model-based approaches and uses measurement-based techniques. Thi...
This paper discusses the effects of integrating wind-turbine generators (WTGs) into hybrid distributed generation systems in extreme northern climates. The hybrid performance analysis tool presented incorporates the added features of dynamic modeling and the graphical user interface available in MATLAB™ Simulink. The model currently consists of a d...
This paper presents the modeling and optimization of a hybrid electric power system for remote locations in extreme climates. The hybrid model presented incorporates the added features of dynamic modeling and graphical user interface available in the Power System Blockset and MATLAB™ Simulink. The model currently consists of a diesel-electric gener...
The stability of heavily interconnected power systems is a primary concern in the power utility industry. Accurate knowledge of the low-frequency electromechanical modes in power systems gives vital information about the stability of the system. Current techniques for estimating electromechanical modes are computationally intensive and rely on comp...
The integration of electric machines and drive systems into Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) applications depends largely on meeting requirements of drive power and speed control with the limited space of an in-wheel design. In addition, UGV drive systems must operate efficiently under all conditions so as to minimize the power consumption from limite...
The stability of heavily interconnected power systems is a primary concern in the power utility industry. Consequently, utilities are interested in real-time assessment of power system conditions. Accurate knowledge of the low-frequency electromechanical modes in power systems gives vital information about the stability of the system. Current techn...