Smart Energy Lab | Facilities | RIT Dubai

The Smart Energy Lab consists of an integrated system of Electrical Energy subsystems. Built by Lucas Nuelle, a German leading provider in education and training, the lab deploys smart electric gird including generation, transmission, distribution, and load management. In addition, the lab includes security and communication modules.

The lab is based on the grid edge concept of clean energy smart grid configuration. The lab is used for undergraduate as well as graduate education and research. Students use the lab to design experiments required for their theses.

Supporting the EE/CS circular and capstones

One of the main objectives of the SEL to strengthen the department energy option courses by providing the lab components and the requirements of the project. The lab provides the facilities and solutions for the following energy courses: EEEE221 (Renewable Energy Sources and Systems), EEEE321 (Energy Conversion), EEEE322 (Power Electronics), EEEE522 (Power System Transmission and Distribution), EEEE489(ST: Smart Grids). Furthermore, at the undergraduate level, capstone projects may utilize the lab for energy-related topics. Such topics may include solar photovoltaic energy conversion design and testing, energy grid synchronization and protection, and building pilot microgrids.

At the graduate level, the lab serves the analysis and design projects required for the following courses: EEEE622 (Power System Transmission and Generation), EEEE789 (ST: Smart grids). Furthermore, the graduate students utilize the lab for their experimental research work in thesis and graduate papers. Such utilization may include designing pilot microgrids, testing solar panels, storage and EV components influence on stabilizing the grid, and Controlling the grid voltage and frequency variations.

Research Activities and Publications

SEL integrated facilities were carefully selected to allow faculty and students (graduate and undergraduate) to conduct applied energy research, both conventional and smart. Some of the concluded and ongoing research topics are:

Modeling and design of solar photovoltaic energy systems
Modeling and design of fuel cell energy storage systems
Design of special purpose microgrids
Synchronizing interconnected smart grids
Controlling reactive power in microgrids
Load Frequency Control in smart grids
Control of FACTS in smart transmission systems

Potential publications of using the SEL in some department master thesis work are underway and will be posted shortly.

Training Programs and Community Engagement

One of the main objectives of having such an advanced energy lab is providing continuous learning to practicing energy engineers in the country and region. Public and special training courses are designed to provide the energy industry with the latest smart technology and solutions. SEL plays a vital role in providing hands-on experience supporting the topics covered in the training programs. Close collaboration between SEL and our department DT (Digital Transformation) is significant to serve the digitalization and security issues in smart energy systems.

Selected titles of promising training courses utilizing the SEL are: Fundamentals of Smart Energy and Smart Grids. Analysis and Design of small-scale special-purpose smart grids (Microgrids), Control and Optimization of Smart Grids, Active and Reactive Power Control, Fundaments of Solar Photovoltaics, Designing Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Demand Side Management in Smart Grids, Cyber Security Issues in Smart Grids.