UTS: FarmGrid - Development of a renewable-based microgrid for an agricultural business
Opportunity for
- Industry partners in smart grid technologies, automated systems and modelling for agricultural businesses
- Collaborate with UTS as an industry partner for the development of a tool for the automated system identification and modelling of smart energy infrastructures in agriculture
Opportunity description
Industry challenge
Smart control systems for energy infrastructure in agricultural premises face the challenge of ensuring a smooth integration and interoperability between diverse technologies. Modern farms often operate with equipment from multiple manufacturers - irrigation systems, renewable energy installations, climate control units or IoT sensors - many of these technologies have incompatible protocols.
Therefore, over 70 % of agricultural technology is deployed in isolation based on the Food and Agricultural Organization for United Nations. This creates inefficiencies that cost farms up to 20-30 % in lost potential energy savings and 15% in reduced productivity gains from automation. By collaborating with an industry partner, this project could develop a tool for automation for smart control systems in micro farms (Europe) or macro farms (Australia).
Current opportunity
This research invites an industry partner to be part of an Australian-German innovation project and to collaborate on developing a fully automated solution that converts real operating data into a customised control system, incorporating system modelling, controller design, code generation and hardware integration.
In the first stage, a tool for automatic system identification and modelling of a dynamic system environment based on data from an agricultural enterprise is to be developed. UTS is looking for an industry partner to collaborate with on this task that can provide agricultural farm data, microgrid hardware (e.g., PV, battery systems) and funding for the project on the Australian side.
Opportunity background
The UTS team brings its established research capability covering all essential aspects of electrical power and energy systems. It undertakes research projects on low carbon energy, especially the generation of renewable energy electricity and its integration into microgrids and smart grids.
In a recently completed project funded by Cotton Research & Development Corporation (CRDC), we developed a prototype decision support system (DSS) for cotton farm microgrids that integrate diesel generators, solar PV, wind turbines, and battery storage. The DSS models farm energy demand alongside historical weather data to determine the optimal mix of generation and storage. This approach reduces reliance on grid electricity and diesel, lowers energy costs, and cuts carbon emissions. It also provides tailored energy management strategies to improve operational efficiency and deliver the best microgrid option to farmers.
The first part of the study focuses on microgrid design optimisation, identifying the best renewable energy and storage combination to ensure a reliable power supply while minimising investment and operating costs and shortening the payback period. The second part presents a model predictive control (MPC) method for managing microgrid operations to reduce water pumping costs while maximising the use of renewable energy. This approach, which can adapt to noise, disturbances, and real-time parameter changes, was validated on two cotton farms. The final part addresses operating cost optimisation under uncertainties such as variable weather, water demand, and renewable generation. A stochastic MPC framework was developed to manage irrigation and pumping operations in real time, applying scenario generation and reduction techniques to capture uncertainties and improve decision-making. The results highlight the potential for energy self-sufficiency, cost savings, and improved sustainability for cotton farms.
Potential other applications
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Experience in microgrid systems for agriculture in cotton farms and other applications from UTS.