Engaging Renewable Energy Education Using a Web-Based Interactive Microgrid Virtual Laboratory

Microgrids are the main building blocks of future smart grids. They provide a promising solution for integrating renewable energy sources and distributed power generation into the power grids. The high penetration of renewable energy sources and their intermittent nature have brought about significant challenges to the control and operation of microgrids. In recent years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted on microgrid dynamics, stability analysis, power management, and control. However, there has been limited effort to integrate cutting-edge technologies into classrooms and laboratories. Many academic institutions face special challenges in establishing microgrid laboratories because of the rapid development of technology, cost, and space requirements, as well as daily and seasonal variations in renewable energy sources. Virtual and remote laboratories have become widely accepted for conducting experiments in higher education. A virtual laboratory is particularly suitable for renewable energy-based microgrids to overcome cost, space, and time restrictions. In this study, a web-based virtual laboratory for microgrids with renewable energy sources was designed and used for renewable energy education. The virtual laboratory was developed using NI® LabVIEW, Microsoft®.Net Core, and MATLAB/Simulink®. Innovative courseware was developed around the virtual laboratory and used in several engineering technology courses to teach topics including solar and wind power, data acquisition, DC-DC converters, battery management, and microgrids. The evaluation showed that the virtual laboratory greatly increased students’ awareness, interest, and knowledge of renewable energy. It provides an interactive and convenient tool to engage students to experiment with renewable energy and microgrids.