Implementing Hydrokinetics and Other DERs Into Microgrid Energy Systems to Enrich Undergraduate Level Power Engineering Education

A feasible and viable industrial microgrid necessitates the efficient integration of diverse Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) including Wind Turbines, Photovoltaics (PV), Energy Storage Systems (ESS), natural gas generators, hydrokinetics, and boilers. To ensure the optimal selection and efficient integration of DERs, effective planning for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) becomes crucial. This paper focuses on improving power engineering education at the undergraduate level by analyzing multiple case studies using the HOMER Pro software to assess economic and sustainability factors associated with microgrid systems. Each case study incorporates unique combinations of DERs for microgrid models that are situated in different locations of the United States, such as in the western region of South Carolina (case study 1), the northern part of California (case study 2), and the northern part of New York (case study 3). The analysis and comparison of these three case studies provide insights into the economic and sustainable aspects of DER integration into industrial microgrids.