Advanced Research Methods Assessment

Assessment

Introduction

Electricity is the backbone of modern world and various aspects of modern life rely on electricity. Electricity enhances human quality of living either it is in urban or rural setting. Global electricity demand is forecast to grow by around 4% in 2024, up from 2.5% in 2023, the IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update finds. This would represent the highest annual growth rate since 2007, excluding the exceptional rebounds seen in the wake of the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. The strong increase in global electricity consumption is set to continue into 2025, with growth around 4% again, according to the report (IEA 2024)

Electricity generated from low-emission sources (Nuclear and Renewables) is set to cover all global demand growth over next 3 years according to IEA. Many countries including Australia is investing heavily in electricity generated from the renewable energy sources to meet targets set in its Net Zero Plan to combat global warming. Australia, along with all parties to the Paris Agreement, has committed to the global goal of holding the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2 °C of warming and pursuing efforts to keep warming to less than 1.5 °C.(IEA 2024).Due to strong dependency on climatic and meteorological conditions, in many cases the optimal system is a hybrid renewable energy system (considering one or more renewable sources) with battery storage systems (and in some cases including diesel generators (Vera et al.,2019). In-line with Australian government’s plan to minimise the reliance on fossil fuel for to reduce the carbon missions. Horizon Power, a state owned vertically integrated electric utility company responsible to supply electric power to Western Australia’s remote and regional areas is gradually increasing RE assets in its portfolio.

Research Question and Objectives

The main purpose of this research is to identify and examine the key challenges when RE and BESS assets are integrated with Broome WA electrical micro-grid. Main purpose of the micro-grid is to supply electrical power to the end-users/customers in most cost effective and reliable way. RE is the way of the future but this has also introduced as with some new issues like variability and surplus generation. Power companies around the world with OEM’s are trying to find answers to these issues.

These key challenges can be broadly divided into four categories as listed below

• Micro-grid Stability Challenges – Stability of electrical grid in terms of protection, V and f is the most critical and essential feature to supply stable stream of electrical energy to the customers. Any fluctuation in V and f beyond the acceptable threshold and failure of grid protection to act when required could damage customers electrical equipment.
• Financial Challenges – Integration of RE and BESS with micro-grid often requires significant upfront investment. This investment must be sourced and justified which can be hard especially when the payback periods are very long.
• Regulatory and Environmental Challenges – Various regulatory and environmental laws and acts must be considered and comply with during the integration and operation of RE and BESS assets. This can be challenging as RE; especially solar and wind farms take up large space of land which is owned by native tribes in the Kimbereley region where Broome is located. 
• Maintenance and Operational Challenges – Broome is a very isolated town located 2045KM’s from Perth. Operating and maintaing RE and BESS assets in such harsh environment could be very challenging.

Assessment Requirements Brief Summary

Assessment type: Research report (case study) examining technical, financial, regulatory and operational challenges of integrating renewable energy (RE) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with the Broome, WA electrical micro-grid.

Primary aim: Identify and examine key challenges that arise when RE and BESS are integrated into Broome’s micro-grid and evaluate how the micro-grid can continue to supply customers reliably and cost-effectively.

Research question: What are the principal challenges when integrating RE and BESS assets with the Broome WA electrical micro-grid, and how can these be managed to maintain reliability and affordability?

Core objectives / key pointers to cover:

• Explain Broome micro-grid objectives and constraints (remote location, customer needs, climate).
• Review current and forecasted electricity demand and generation trends (context: rising global electricity demand and growing RE share).
• Technical/stability challenges: voltage/frequency control, protection coordination, variability, frequency response, islanding and black start, inertia substitution, power quality.
• Financial challenges: capital expenditure, cost-benefit and payback analysis, funding models, tariff impacts and economic justification.
• Regulatory & environmental challenges: land use and native title considerations (Kimberley), permitting, grid connection rules, environmental approvals, compliance with national/state policies.
• Maintenance & operational challenges: logistics, harsh environment, staffing and supply chain constraints, remote monitoring, O&M strategies.
• Propose mitigation strategies: control and protection architectures, hybrid system design, BESS sizing/controls, forecasting and dispatch, regulatory engagement, financing options, maintenance planning.
• Conclude with recommendations and prioritized implementation roadmap.

Deliverables: literature review, system analysis (qualitative and where possible quantitative), stakeholder/regulatory assessment, risk register, recommended technical and business solutions, and a clear, evidence-based conclusion.

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student Step-by-Step Process

Step 1 Clarify scope & map deliverables

• Mentor reviewed the research question and confirmed deliverables (report structure, required sections, expected depth).
• Agreed on geographic/technical bounds (Broome micro-grid specifics, inclusion of BESS + possible diesel backup).

Step 2 Build the literature & data plan

• Advised sources to prioritise: IEA/energy outlooks, Australian government/net-zero policy docs, Horizon Power materials, technical papers on hybrid micro-grids, and case studies on remote RE+BESS projects.
• Defined data needs: local demand profile, resource availability (solar/wind), existing generation mix, distance/logistics constraints.

Step 3 Structure the technical analysis

• Mentor helped the student split technical work into modules: stability/protection, power quality, control strategies (grid-forming vs grid-following), BESS sizing and dispatch logic.
• Suggested simple modelling approaches or conceptual diagrams where full simulation wasn’t feasible (e.g., illustrative power-flow/response charts).

Step 4 Tackle financial & regulatory dimensions

• Guided the student to develop a straightforward financial assessment framework: capex/opex estimates, funding options, sensitivity to energy prices and utilisation.
• Mapped regulatory stakeholders and flagged environmental/land-use constraints (indigenous land interactions) to include in stakeholder and compliance analysis.

Step 5 Operational & maintenance planning

• Coached on developing practical O&M strategies for remote conditions: remote diagnostics, modular spares strategy, training/local employment, service contracts.
• Recommended risk mitigation for extreme weather and supply chain delays.

Step 6 Synthesis, recommendations & roadmap

• Assisted in prioritising solutions (quick wins vs long-term) and formatting an implementable roadmap with timelines, responsible parties and estimated costs.
• Reviewed drafts to ensure recommendations linked directly to identified challenges and were evidence-based.

Step 7 Quality control & presentation

• Performed final checks on coherence, references and clarity; ensured the report emphasized business value (reliability, cost, emissions) and practical feasibility.
• Helped refine executive summary and visual aids (WBS, risk matrix, high-level process maps) for stakeholder readability.

Outcome What Was Achieved

• A well-structured research report that:
  • Clearly articulated Broome’s micro-grid constraints and demand drivers.
  • Identified and categorized the main challenges under Technical (stability/protection), Financial, Regulatory/Environmental and Operational/Maintenance headings.
  • Proposed targeted mitigation measures (e.g., grid-forming BESS control, adaptive protection schemes, phased financing, indigenous land engagement protocols, remote O&M plans).
  • Presented a prioritized implementation roadmap with near-term actions and longer-term investments.
• Practical artifacts: risk register, stakeholder map, schematic future-state micro-grid diagram, and cost/benefit sensitivity outline.
• A defensible set of recommendations linking technical fixes to financial and regulatory feasibility.

Learning Objectives Covered

1. Technical competence: Understanding of micro-grid stability issues, BESS role and control strategies, and protection/power-quality considerations in hybrid systems.
2. Analytical skills: Ability to synthesise technical, financial and regulatory information into coherent project recommendations.
3. Problem framing: Breaking a complex, multidisciplinary problem into manageable analysis modules and prioritising interventions.
4. Evidence-based decision making: Using data and literature to justify sizing, control, and financing choices.
5. Stakeholder & regulatory awareness: Recognising local land, cultural, and compliance obligations and incorporating them into project design.
6. Operational planning: Planning for remote maintenance, logistics, and workforce readiness tailored to Broome’s context.
7. Professional communication: Producing a clear, stakeholder-focused report and visuals that translate technical detail for decision makers.

Get Expert Help Use This Sample Wisely!

Looking to understand how to structure and present your assignment effectively? You can download the sample solution below to explore formatting, research methods, and referencing techniques. This sample has been prepared by expert academic writers and serves as a reliable guide to help you improve your own writing and understanding of the topic.

Important: This sample is for reference and learning purposes only. Submitting it as your own work may lead to plagiarism issues or academic penalties. Use it as inspiration to develop your original content.

If you need a fresh, 100% plagiarism-free assignment tailored to your specific topic, our team of qualified academic writers can create a custom-written solution based on your university guidelines and marking rubrics. Get professional help, meet your deadlines, and ensure top-quality work all stress-free!

Why Choose a Custom-Written Solution?

• Written from scratch by subject experts
• Guaranteed originality with plagiarism reports
• Properly referenced and formatted as per academic standards
• Delivered on time with round-the-clock support

Download Sample Solution  Order Fresh Assignment