Juan Pichardo, Rafael Batista, Ramón De Jesús and Abraham Espinal (from left to right) are the team in charge of the PEER project titled “Resiliency Analysis for the Development of Microgrid Architecture against Climate-Driven Events in the Dominican Republic's Electric Systems”.
Click hereThe Dominican Republic is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and has a long history of natural disasters that have severely affected the country. At any moment, a hurricane or an earthquake could strike at any moment and, in a few hours, destroy the systems that the Caribbean nation has taken years to build.
In 2017, the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017 cost an estimated US$90 billion dollars in damages in Puerto Rico alone. This disaster was a wake-up call to the international community highlighting the challenges in mitigating the impact of these events.
It is essential for the Dominican Republic to find ways to deal with emergencies caused by extreme weather events. USAID through its Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) grants program helps researchers find solutions to global development challenges like the ones mentioned previously.
Ramón De Jesús, Abraham Espinal and Rafael Batista, are part of a team of professionals and researchers working together to improve the resilience of electrical systems in the country. They have experience in the energy sector and related fields, and have joined forces to conduct research focused on Energy Resilience and Electric Microgrids.
“A reliable electrical grid is the backbone of modern society,” Ramón tells us. “Energy is so intertwined and integrated into every human activity and economic process that it has become essential.” Having a reliable electrical grid is difficult for island nations like the Dominican Republic, as they are much more vulnerable to climate shocks. According to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index, the Dominican Republic is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. In addition, the Dominican energy system is “small and isolated which is a perfect breeding ground for any unexpected catastrophe (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.), putting national security in the hands of fortune,” shares Ramón.
Through their research, Ramón, Abraham, and Rafael seek to help the country become more resilient by, “preparing for and adapting to catastrophic events, and then quickly resisting and recovering from the disruptions caused by them.” they tell us.
The team studies and evaluates microgrid creation scenarios in Dominican power grids. “A microgrid is a small-scale version of the electrical grid that serves a local area, such as a neighborhood, hospital, campus, or military base; it can run independently or be connected to the main power grid, and can switch between the two depending on the needs of the community it serves,” says Ramón.
In addition, this search for solutions to strengthening energy systems advances the vision of decentralization, digitalization and decarbonization of the energy sector.
By studying the microgrids and their interactions, Ramón and the team have been able to assess that, when power outages occur, microgrids can reconnect and continue to provide electricity to the spaces that are connected to it, thus ensuring that the people have electricity.
In their laboratory, which has state-of-the-art equipment, the research team conducts various simulations to identify the resilience index of the microgrid found in space. The laboratory microgrid has a real-time simulator (OPAL 57-07), three-phase inverters (of three alternating currents), a photovoltaic panel, batteries, load banks that simulate houses, homes, companies; as well as other instruments that help them simulate how real electrical networks behave.
By utilizing mathematical models, the team has been able to test multiple scenarios more quickly and in real time. This allows them to predict and understand the potential failures or behaviors that the electrical network may experience before, during, and after a natural disaster.
With this laboratory, supported under USAID's Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), Ramón and the team are helping to improve the skills and abilities of energy sector professionals now and into the future.
For them, this work is not just another research: it is an investment in the future of the country.
It is common knowledge that the countries that do not visualize and invest during this window of opportunity will become the “developing countries” of the future. Working hand in hand with the local electricity distributor (EDENorte), we ensure that the results of our research translate directly into capacity building”, Ramón tells us.
The team aims to make their research findings accessible to a wider audience beyond the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM university, which carries out the project)) and the electricity distributor EDENorte. They want other students and professionals to be able to access the data they have collected. Additionally, the team hopes to attract more professionals from other fields and the general public to learn about the project and potentially collaborate.
The team has also received additional funding for future research projects by using the laboratory as a new research platform. They received funds from the Dominican Government through the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Research (FONDOCYT). With this funding, they will create an open data platform on resilience and improve their understanding of the electrical distribution system. The platform will offer information on how the electrical system can change to adjust to a more active network, as well as the possible consequences of sudden and unforeseen shifts.
The team believes this research will help build capacity in sustainability, promote independence and foster innovation in the energy sector. “Supporting the capacity development in these areas plays a fundamental role in the creation of a modern and resilient nation, ensuring the quality of life of our compatriots in the worst scenarios of climate change,” Ramón tells us.
About the Author:
Brenda Silverio is the Social Media Specialist at USAID’s Mission in the Dominican Republic.
Photos and video by PUCMM.