Overview

The aim of this unit is to provide an in-depth treatment of microgrids and smart grids along with their design and implementation strategies.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the main components of microgrids and smart grids and appraise their differences (K1, K3, S1, S3)
  • Describe the standards of operating microgrids and smart grids (K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A2)
  • Reflect on Microgrid interconnection, issues, planning, advantages and disadvantages (K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A2)
  • Design and simulate the behaviours of microgrids and smart grids with industry standard analysis tools (A4, A6, K2, K3, K5, S1, S2, S3)
  • Solve complex power engineering problems with application of control and communication theory (K2, K3, S1, S2)
  • Design energy management systems for a practical operation of microgrids and smart grids (K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3)
  • Design centralised and distributed control systems for microgrids. (K2, K3, S1, S2, S3)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		 1.00  12 weeks  12
Online
Lecture		 1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Lecture		 1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		 1.00 12 weeks  12
On-campus
Lab		 2.00  12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		 6.50  12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Laboratory Practicals Individual/Group  15 - 25%  2,3,4,6 
Portfolio Individual  30 - 45%  1,2,3,4,5,6,7 
Quiz Individual  30 - 50%  1,2,3,4,5 

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:

(i) an overall mark for the unit of 50% or more, and(ii) at least 40% in the final exam, and(iii) at least 40% of the possible marks for the laboratory hurdleStudents who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirements (ii) and (iii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • Overview of Microgrids and Smart Grids
  • Components of Microgrids
  • Microgrid Standards
  • Microgrid Applications
  • Operation of Microgrids
  • Microgrids as Smart Grids
  • Smart Grid Standards
  • Control and Communication in Smart Grids
  • Energy Management in Smart Grids
  • Smart Metering
  • Smart Grid Cyber Security

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.