EnerNex Advances Utility of the Future Vision at DistribuTECH 2016

Feb 9, 2016 | Grid Modernization, Press, Press Releases, Utility Business Transformation

EnerNex Advances Utility of the Future Vision at DistribuTECH 2016

As energy storage and other distributed energy resource deployments increase, EnerNex forecasts major changes in the planning and operation of the grid

Knoxville, Tenn., USA, February 9, 2016 — EnerNex, an electric power research, engineering and consulting firm, again plays a major role at DistribuTECH 2016, one of the leading transmission and distribution trade shows in North America. The conference is February 9-11, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.

Moderated SCE’s Grid Modernization Panel

Prior to the start of the conference, EnerNex moderated a panel session, “Modern Grid, Modern Capabilities,” on behalf of Southern California Edison (SCE) to discuss the essential grid technology capabilities and roll-out of SCE’s Grid Modernization program. EnerNex has significant representation on SCE’s architecture team, which includes the ‘best of the best utility systems architects,’ in support of the utility’s Grid Modernization Architecture effort.

The session provided insight into the concept of a Grid Management System and the underlying principle architecture necessary for key capabilities to support SCE’s vision of an adaptable, extendable and standards driven infrastructure. The panel discussed a number of key grid technology capabilities needed in the near future by SCE and other utilities that are facing rapid growth in Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and operational complexity. EnerNex is further developing and deploying these concepts in other utility projects.

DistribuTECH involvement

The firm is presenting and exhibiting at DistribuTECH. EnerNex experts will speak at general sessions, and give in-booth presentations (booth #1836) on the show floor at the Orange County Convention Center.

Erich Gunther, EnerNex CTO:

Grant Gilchrist, Principal Consultant, Smart Grid Engineering Team

Building Toward the Utility of the Future

“With DER systems on the rise, utilities are developing new business models and operations practices to facilitate and accommodate new generation and energy storage technologies. We’re at the forefront of rethinking the utility business model and creating frameworks for the future,” said EnerNex CTO and co-founder Erich Gunther. “In 2016 we look forward to working alongside utilities to lead and implement this next generation of system design building toward the utility of the future.”

EnerNex is involved with a number of activities focused on the utility of the future including, its work with Smart Grid Interoperability Panel’s (SGIP) Conceptual Architecture; The Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation’s (CEATI) Distribution Utility Technology Roadmap reports; Gridwise Architecture Council (GWAC) on transactive energy; Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Integrated Grid.

For more information on SCE’s Grid Modernization program or EnerNex work:

  • Visit EnerNex booth #1836 at DistribuTECH.
  • Join an upcoming complimentary EnerNex webinar on March 3 at 2:00pm EST for a recap of SCE’s Grid Modernization program, as well as the latest developments of industry activities helping to advance the vision of the utility of the future. Click here to register.

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About EnerNex

EnerNex, established in 2003, provides research, engineering and consulting services, for the electric power industry. EnerNex focuses on providing services around the development and application of new and emerging electric power technologies to engineer a cleaner, smarter energy system of the future.

Smart Metering (SM) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Smart Metering and AMI is a transformational process addressing multiple business and technical needs of the utility enterprise. This is more than just smart meters and communications networks; it includes all of the back end applications that can leverage the meter assets, such as outage notification, demand response, call center optimization, disputed billing process handling, pre-payment opportunities, and service connection management methods and procedures, to name a few.

Implementing SM and AMI faces the same business, engineering, and operational challenges as any other across-the-utility information technology endeavors – most notably risk associated with embracing proprietary technology, missing functionality and early obsolescence. Effective SM and AMI development, implementation, and operation relies on a marriage of electric power engineering with information technology expertise: a key component of EnerNex’s expertise and experience.

EnerNex provides an array of engineering and consulting services geared towards intelligent and effective implementation of SM and AMI. This covers all phases of project development, starting with capturing system requirements where our experts leverage a “Use Case” centric view of activities needed to be accomplished and their interaction with systems and other users. Subsequent project steps typically examine other critical areas, such as: modeling of business cases, building inter-department consensus, assembling and assessing system functional requirements and non-functional requirements, developing a system design, hardware and software specifications and standards, complete procurement services including RFI and RFQ process support, supplier rating system, response evaluation methodology, deployment management, and training of office and field personnel.

Demand Response (DR)

Demand response can be as simple as load interruption directed by the energy supplier in response to severe demand requirements, to complex customer defined load management in response to price signals. DR is one of the components of a “Non-Wires Alternative” that many utilities are effectively using to avoid expensive distribution fortification or upgrade.

 

Often the success and/or failure of demand response programs can be linked to program implementation challenges such as rate/tariff design rate structures communication (e.g. price signals) or ineffective incentives used by utilities to encourage customers to accept operational change. The issues of program design, rate structure and customer impact have a tremendous influence on the success or failure of load management initiatives. Demand response has traditionally been used as a tool of the energy industry to ensure system stability. However, the introduction of microelectronics, communications, home automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the development of cost effective solutions that have the capability to allow the consumer to take control of managing their energy load and ultimately, the price they pay for energy.

EnerNex has the experience and skills to turn your DR program into a successful operational asset and customer engagement process that can deliver value to all parties.

Energy Assurance Planning

Natural and man-made disasters cause an estimated $57B in average annual costs for all parties; large single events have resulted in losses of $100B or more. Events, such as the World Trade Center disaster, Hurricane Katrina, and most recently Hurricane Helene, have demonstrated an acute need to revisit, revise and implement an effective energy assurance plan. Energy assurance plans assess the functionality and interdependencies of buildings and infrastructure systems and the role they play in sustaining service and rapidly restoring critical services to a community following a hazard event.

 

EnerNex assists our clients in developing comprehensive energy assurance plans that mitigate and minimize the impact of energy disruptions. Our experts assess critical infrastructure risks and evaluate appropriate mitigation strategies and can help in developing an effective business continuity/disaster recovery (BC/DR) plan for utilities and your customers.

Microgrid Development

As the electric grid becomes more distributed and interactive, microgrids are playing an increasingly important role in our energy future. Decision makers at military bases, corporate and institutional campuses, residential communities and critical facilities across the world are exploring and implementing microgrids to meet economic, resiliency and environmental goals. Utility-grade microgrids are being deployed to meet transmission constraints, reliability requirements and safe-havens in the event of a significant storm event.

Microgrid_development Graphic steps to support grid modernization

Bringing together a portfolio of distributed energy resources into a controllable, islandable microgrid comes with its own set of challenges. The key to solving these challenges is in architecting a system to support information exchanges between components across well-defined points of interoperability (interfaces) in a technology independent manner. This interoperability ensures that the system is resilient to technology change. Modern systems engineering techniques must be employed to ensure that individual sub‐systems are clearly identified, their functions enumerated, their data requirements known, and the points of interoperability clearly specified, along with the commensurate monitoring, command and control that is needed to ensure grid stability. With such architecture, we can apply best of breed technology available today to support those information exchanges at interface boundaries but be free to upgrade / change the implementation technology later without causing a ripple effect throughout the system.

Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise Architecture focuses on aligning an organization’s business strategies with its anticipated, desired and planned technology enhancements. Enterprise Architecture provides a framework to cost-effectively transition from a current “as-is” technology to future enterprise-wide technological solutions. An effective Enterprise Architecture program aligns business investments with long-term business strategies while minimizing risk and providing superior technological solutions. EnerNex’s key asset is its highly skilled and experienced staff who are closely connected to both the smart grid and EA standards and practices. We provide clients with the insight necessary to operate a fully functioning smart grid, which is flexible, scalable, and vendor independent.

Grid Modernization Roadmap

Utility companies across the globe are continually modernizing their grid. Each company often has different rationales, objectives and priorities. Frequently, smart grid plans are developed for individual, incremental initiatives, rather than as a part of a whole, intelligent and interoperable infrastructure. Planning may be developed around technology choices rather than business and technical requirements. The result of incremental and flawed planning leads to increased cost and risk, lost opportunities, disconnected expectations and dead ends.

 

EnerNex’s approach to grid modernization roadmap development follows a proven, industry-standard approach to grid modernization planning by collaboratively working with the utility to develop a set of prioritized and time-phased grid modernization initiatives unique to its business strategy and objectives. The roadmap developed is holistic, requirements-based, business value driven and actionable. It often builds on and leverages existing applications and infrastructure, and incorporates industry standards to ensure interoperability, flexibility and reduced cost and risk.

Utility Communications

Utility communication and control systems are increasingly interconnected to each other and to public networks and as a result, they are becoming increasingly more susceptible to disruptions and cyber attacks. EnerNex has experience with the various issues relating to development, implementation and optimization including feasibility analysis, design, software development and customization, project management and acceptance. Our expertise extends from being involved in the development of the fundamental standards that support utility communication and automation, through deployment and securing of those resources. EnerNex personnel were heavily involved in development of such standards and protocols as IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5 and DNp3. Our staff played a key role in the EPRI Utility Communication Architecture (UCA) project and the IntelliGrid Architecture effort.

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