The Illuminator: Energy system development kit

Engineering has a significant cultural component in addition to its widespread perception as an engine of innovation and economic growth. This cultural component corresponds to how users and communities react or adapt to technological innovations and their influence on the advancement of such innovations. Hence, it is critical to prioritize the social aspect as much as the technical aspect of the energy transition. With the fast-growing world and its energy demand, it becomes necessary to shift renewable energy-producing technologies to keep this planet habitable. But during the transition, it is essential to maintain the flexibility, reliability, availability, and robustness of the current energy system. With multiple actors involved in the energy system, it becomes inevitable to have a united front to make an effective transition and offer holistic solutions to the challenges. For this, communication among them is important. This thesis has contributed to developing a toolkit catering to the cultural component of engineering and bringing different actors in the energy system to the same platform. It takes the route of co-simulation and modelling of energy system components. The modular and user-centred design of the toolkit helps to educate the communities to increase their acceptance of renewables, educate students about recent changes in the energy system, and foster communication among domain experts by simulating the challenges of energy transition and system integration. Illuminator's table top approach makes it easy for users to operate and understand the energy system demonstrations. The outcomes show example demonstrations simulated for a specific group of users by leveraging Illuminator's modularity, table top approach, and scalability.
Electrical Engineering | Sustainable Energy Technology