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Creation of a Synthetic Rural Alaskan Microgrid Model

Author

Listed:
  • Alexis Francisco

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Glen Woodworth

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Audrey Eikenberry

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Cathy Hou

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Nasser Faarooqui

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • David Light

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Mariko Shirazi

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

  • Phylicia Cicilio

    (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA)

Abstract

Power system models of electric systems are crucial in system planning for operations, economics, and expansion analyses. However, as these models contain critical infrastructure data, they are not publicly available. This poses challenges in future expansion scenarios and evaluating technological advancements in an electric grid. Synthetic models are realistic power system models, both topologically and operationally. However, since the electrical network is typically produced using statistical data and often uses machine learning, it does not contain propriety information. This allows researchers to evaluate system behavior under various operating conditions and as test cases for emerging technologies. These test cases are particularly important in highly evolving electric grids and areas of high renewable energy integration such as Alaska. Currently, no publicly available benchmark power system models of rural Alaskan island microgrids exist. This paper presents a rural Alaskan microgrid synthetic power system model and the methodology adopted to develop the model. The performance of the developed synthetic grid was assessed through steady state and positive-sequence dynamic simulations under various operating conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexis Francisco & Glen Woodworth & Audrey Eikenberry & Cathy Hou & Nasser Faarooqui & David Light & Mariko Shirazi & Phylicia Cicilio, 2025. "Creation of a Synthetic Rural Alaskan Microgrid Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:17:p:4715-:d:1742353
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adam B. Birchfield & Eran Schweitzer & Mir Hadi Athari & Ti Xu & Thomas J. Overbye & Anna Scaglione & Zhifang Wang, 2017. "A Metric-Based Validation Process to Assess the Realism of Synthetic Power Grids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, August.
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