PhD Oral Exam - Mohamed Osman, Building Engineering

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

Quebec's net-zero emissions goal by 2050 poses significant challenges in decarbonizing buildings and transportation sectors, while managing increasing electricity demand. A significant obstacle is managing the temporal dynamics of electricity demand, particularly during irregular and unpredictable peak demand periods influenced by weather, economic activities, and consumer behavior. Therefore, managing and shifting this peak demand through designing efficient demand-side management (DSM) strategies like demand response (DR) and Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) becomes essential to flatten the demand curve, ensuring a more efficient, sustainable, and economically viable energy transition in Quebec.

This thesis introduces the CityEnergy Suite, a comprehensive modeling framework for simulating residential occupant energy-related behavior, Electric vehicle (EV) charging, and DR strategies. The model leverages various open-access datasets, including Census data, activity, energy, and mobility surveys, to generate high-resolution load profiles. The CityEnergy Suite employs a modular, agent-based approach to evaluate aggregate occupant behavior impacts on the electrical grid and explore future energy scenarios. The suite comprises three pivotal components, CityAgent, CityLoad, and CityCharge, each meticulously crafted to address specific aspects of urban energy dynamics.

CityAgent generates a granular synthetic population model tailored to the Montreal region, incorporating diverse household compositions and socio-economic characteristics. Second, CityLoad produces detailed stochastic energy load profiles that consider household characteristics and appliance usage. Third, CityCharge models urban EV charging demand, which enables analyzing the implications of different charging behaviors and penetration scenarios on the grid. The findings provide crucial insights into the development of decarbonization and DSM strategies, highlighting the potential of engaging small customers to actively support grid stability through load shifting, peak shaving, and emerging V2G technologies. The CityEnergy Suite offers a robust framework for designing inclusive and effective energy policies, contributing significantly to Quebec's decarbonization efforts. The results provide valuable guidelines for policymakers and utility companies to enhance grid stability and efficiency through active customer engagement in load management activities.