Network partitioning algorithms for electricity consumer clustering
Name
1126790961-MIT.pdf
Size
2.94 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
fd3322202cb827d0df8d4e7b3acb71a0
Author(s)
Oladeji, Olamide.
Advisor(s)
Ignacio Perez-Arriaga.
Date Issued
2018
2018
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
In many developing countries, access to electricity remains a significant challenge. Electrification planners in these countries often have to make important decisions on the mode of electrification and the planning of electrical networks for those without access, while under resource constraints. To facilitate the achievement of universal energy access, the Reference Electrification Model (REM), a computational model capable of providing techno-economic analysis and data-driven decision support for these planning efforts, has been developed. Primary among REM's capabilities is the recommendation of the least-cost mode of electrification - i.e by electric grid extension or off-grid systems - for non-electrified consumers in a region under analysis, while considering technical, economic and environmental constraints.
This is achieved by the identification of consumer clusters (either as clusters of off-grid microgrids, stand-alone systems or grid-extension projects) using underlying clustering methods in the model. This thesis focuses on the development and implementation of partitioning algorithms to achieve this purpose. Building on previously implemented efforts on the clustering and recommendation capabilities of REM, this work presents the development, analysis and performance evaluation of alternative approaches to the consumer clustering process, in comparison with REM's previously incorporated clustering methodology. Results show that the alternative methodology proposed can compare favorably with the hitherto implemented method in REM. Consequently, the integration of the pro- posed network partitioning procedures within REM, as well as some potential future research directions, is discussed.
Finally, this thesis concludes with a discourse on the social and regulatory aspects of energy access and electricity planning in developing countries, providing some perspectives on the development policies and business models that complement the technological contributions of this work.
Description
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Thesis: S.M. in Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Technology and Policy Program, 2018
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 97-103).
Subjects
Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.
Technology and Policy Program.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
Technology and Policy Program
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