Browsing by Author "Coronado-Hernandez, Oscar E."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Contributions Toward Net-Zero Carbon in the Water Sector: Application to a Case Study
(IWA Publishing, 2025) Ramos, Helena M.; Perez-Sanchez, Modesto; Correia, Tiago; Bekci, E.; Besharat, M.; Kuriqi, Alban; Coronado-Hernandez, Oscar E.
This study presents an integrated smart water-energy nexus framework combining IoT-based water monitoring, hybrid renewables (hydropower/solar/wind), and AI-driven optimization. Real-time sensor data enables automated grid management, while AI analytics optimize operations and predict maintenance needs through a closed-loop system. The solution achieves bidirectional energy exchange, with the full hybrid system (G + H + PV + W) reducing costs by 41.5% (831K) and LCOE by 57.2% (0.0475/kWh). Financial analysis confirms viability with 26.4% IRR and 3.8-year payback, while achieving negative CO2 emissions (-160,476 kg/year). Progressive renewable integration enhances all key performance indicators (KPIs), cutting OPEX by 89.9% (7,156/year) through optimized operations. Dual water-energy performance metrics (leakage, pressure, % renewable share) ensure balanced and sustainable grid management. Key innovations include IoT-energy synergy, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and circular resource efficiency. The framework demonstrates how smart water grids can achieve both economic and environmental benefits through renewable energy integration and advanced digital solutions.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 4
Optimization and Machine Learning in Modeling Approaches to Hybrid Energy Balance to Improve Ports' Efficiency
(MDPI, 2025) Ramos, Helena M.; Coelho, Joao S. T.; Bekci, Eyup; Adrover, Toni X.; Coronado-Hernandez, Oscar E.; Perez-Sanchez, Modesto; Espina-Valdes, R.
This research provides a comprehensive review of hybrid energy solutions and optimization models for ports and marine environments. It details new methodologies, including strategic energy management and a machine learning (ML) tool for predicting energy surplus and deficits. The hybrid energy module solution for the Port of Avil & eacute;s was further developed to evaluate the performance of new tools such as the Energy Management Tool (EMTv1), HYbrid for Renewable Energy Solutions (HY4RES), and a commercial model (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources-HOMER) in optimizing renewable energy and storage management. Seven scenarios were analyzed, integrating different energy sources and storage solutions. Using EMTv1, Scenario 1 showed high surplus energy, while Scenario 2 demonstrated grid independence with Pump-as-Turbine (PAT) storage. The HY4RES model was used to analyze Scenario 3, which achieved a positive grid balance, exporting more than imported, and Scenario 4 revealed limitations of the PAT system due to the low power installed. Scenario 5 introduced a 15 kWh battery, efficiently storing and discharging energy, reducing grid reliance, and fully covering energy needs. Using HOMER modeling, Scenario 6 required 546 kWh of grid energy but sold 2385 kWh back. Scenario 7 produced 3450 kWh/year, covering demand, resulting in 1834 kWh of surplus energy and a small capacity shortage (1.41 kWh/year). AI-based ML analysis was applied to five scenarios (the ones with access to numerical results), accurately predicting energy balances and optimizing grid interactions. A neural network time series (NNTS) model trained on average year data achieved high accuracy (R2: 0.9253-0.9695). The ANN model proved effective in making rapid energy balance predictions, reducing the need for complex simulations. A second case analyzed an increase of 80% in demand, confirming the model's reliability, with Scenario 3 having the highest MSE (0.0166 kWh), Scenario 2 the lowest R2 (0.9289), and Scenario 5 the highest R2 (0.9693) during the validation process. This study highlights AI-driven forecasting as a valuable tool for ports to optimize energy management, minimize grid dependency, and enhance their efficiency.
Strategic Modeling of Hybrid Smart Micro Energy Communities: A Decision-Oriented Approach
(MDPI, 2026) Perez-Sanchez, Modesto; Coronado-Hernandez, Oscar E.; McNabola, Aonghus; Erdfarb, Alex; Ramos, Helena M.; Demircan, Isil; Koca, Kemal
Hybrid renewable energy systems are increasingly important for enabling sustainable and resilient energy supply in rural smart communities, yet existing tools often lack the ability to integrate environmental variability, multi-technology interactions, and economic-environmental assessment in a unified framework. This study presents Hybrid Smart Micro Energy Community (HySMEC), a novel modeling approach that combines high-resolution meteorological data, technology-specific generation models, detailed demand characterization, and financial analysis to evaluate hybrid configurations of hydropower, solar PV, wind, battery storage, and grid interaction. Hourly simulations capture seasonal dynamics and system behavior under realistic technical efficiencies, investment costs, and emission factors, enabling a transparent assessment of energy flows, self-consumption, and grid dependence. The results show that hybrid systems can achieve competitive economic performance, low Levelized Costs of Energy, and significant CO2 emission reductions across diverse rural community profiles, even when space or demand constraints are present. The analysis confirms the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of integrating multiple renewable sources with storage, highlighting the importance of self-consumption ratios in improving system profitability. Overall, HySMEC provides a robust and scalable tool to support data-driven design and optimization of distributed energy systems, offering valuable insights for researchers, planners, and decision-makers involved in sustainable rural energy development.