Design and Development of Net Metering System

Project Title

Design and Development of Net Metering System

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Many industries generate electricity by their own to fulfil their load requirements. If the generation is less than the desired load, then the remaining is provided by WAPDA. On the other hand, if the generation exceed the desired load, the surplus is sold out to the WAPDA. This is done using a Net Metering device. Net metering is a mechanism that allows electricity customers with their own generation capability to be financially compensated for their investment in the energy they produce. A similar opportunity can be provided to the domestic users that generate electricity by their own, for example using voltaic panel etc. This encourages private sector to invest in electricity generation and hence the government can spare its capital to be utilized elsewhere. The main objective of this project is to design and develop a bi-directional metering (Net Metering) device. The proposed bidirectional net meter consists of voltage and current measurement circuit which measures the instantaneous voltage and current respectively. It consists of Arduino UNO which acts as the processing unit and LCD display to display the net energy at regular intervals. Experimental results show the accuracy in calculating the net energy of the system. Furthermore, this project aims to test this device in a system where the national and local generators can be operated synchronously. If the load demand exceeds the local generation capacity, the deficiency shall be compensated using national grid and similarly if the local generation exceeds the load surplus shall be added to national grid.

Many industries generate electricity by their own to fulfil their load requirements. If the generation is less than the desired load, then the remaining is provided by WAPDA. On the other hand, if the generation exceed the desired load, the surplus is sold out to the WAPDA. This is done using a Net Metering device. Net metering is a mechanism that allows electricity customers with their own generation capability to be financially compensated for their investment in the energy they produce. A similar opportunity can be provided to the domestic users that generate electricity by their own, for example using voltaic panel etc. This encourages private sector to invest in electricity generation and hence the government can spare its capital to be utilized elsewhere. The main objective of this project is to design and develop a bi-directional metering (Net Metering) device. The proposed bidirectional net meter consists of voltage and current measurement circuit which measures the instantaneous voltage and current respectively. It consists of Arduino UNO which acts as the processing unit and LCD display to display the net energy at regular intervals. Experimental results show the accuracy in calculating the net energy of the system. Furthermore, this project aims to test this device in a system where the national and local generators can be operated synchronously. If the load demand exceeds the local generation capacity, the deficiency shall be compensated using national grid and similarly if the local generation exceeds the load surplus shall be added to national grid.

Project Objectives

• Design and development of bi-directional metering device
• Design and development of a synchronization module to operate two AC sources simultaneously
• Design and development of a DC/AC inverter in order to provide an opportunity of net metering to users generating electricity from solar energy
•  Integration of solar system to net metering system

Project Implementation Method

Net meter is used to measure the net energy between the grid to load and the excess energy from any renewable energy sources that fed to the grid . The proposed system consists of a voltage and current measuring circuit, power supply unit, amplifiers (Op-amp IC 741), regulators (LM 7809) and processing unit. The voltage and current measuring circuit feeds the corresponding instantaneous values of voltage and current as an input to Arduino. Arduino calculates the net energy by using instantaneous values of voltage and current. The net output energy is displayed through LCD which is interfaced with Arduino. 

Benefits of the Project

• Contribution to country economy
• Encourages customers to move towards renewable energy
• This encourages private sector to invest in electricity generation and hence the government can spare its capital to be utilized elsewhere.
• Reduced electricity bills.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

• Design of grid tie inverter
• Design of Bi-directional meter
• Design of Synchronization module
• Integration of solar system to net metering system

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other Industries Others Core Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Elapsed time in (days or weeks or month or quarter) since start of the project	Milestone	Deliverable
Month 1	Literature review for FYP	To determine methodology and make concepts strong
Month 2	To understand the working of bi directional metering.	Working principle
Month 3	Implementation and testing of bi directional metering device	Design of meter
Month 4	To understand the working of synchronization module	Working/operation
Month 5	Implementation and testing of synchronization module	Design of synchronization module
Month 6	Integration of a complete net metering system with two sources and a variable load	Integration of whole system
Month 7	To understand the working of DC to AC inverter	Working principle
Month 8	Implementation and testing of DC to AC inverter	Design of inverter
Month 9	Integration of a complete net metring system with a PV as local source and a variable load	Complete project
Month 10	Documentation	Project report
Month 11	Thesis write up	Project report
Month 12	Thesis write up	Project report