Acmena provides Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) expertise to help develop reference architecture for Australia's contribution to renewable energy solutions.

Challenge

With the world shifting rapidly towards renewable power sources, Energy Catalyst provides consultancy services to global agencies involved with transforming power systems. Commissioned to develop a reference architecture for Australia’s national electricity market as part of Australia’s contribution to the Global Power System Transformation initiative, Energy Catalyst engaged Acmena to advise on a MBSE solution to provide a common language between stakeholders and enable traceability and documentation of decisions in a single source of truth.

Approach

Acmena conducted a series of workshops and meetings with the Energy Catalyst team to understand their needs and provide guidance on the use of MBSE. A taxonomy with key elements for documenting power industry artefacts was developed. Acmena also supported the development of functional and physical diagrams as a prototype in addition to a methodology for simulation to enable future expansion of the power grid. It included simulating key functions in the model for early validation of the future version of the grid.

Outcome

Acmena successfully upskilled the Energy Catalyst team, enabling it to demonstrate the potential value and usage of MBSE in the energy sector. Leveraging Acmena’s guidance and expertise, Energy Catalyst successfully developed a functional prototype simulation of power system functions for emergency solar curtailment, highlighting the potential for early validation of future systems through simulation.

Profile

• Cost: Confidential
• Start: 2024
• Finish: 2024
• Client: Energy Catalyst
• Objective: Energy Catalyst is a specialised consulting platform that works with government agencies, innovators and utility companies to understand and navigate complex energy system transformations in Australia, the U.S. U.K. and EU.
• Services provided: Model Based Systems Engineering, System Definition, System Modelling

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