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Communicating Smart Meter Value

Sep 9 2010 - 2010-01-01 12:00:00 - Your City

If you are involved in Management or Customer Service and are responsible for communicating the value of smart meters to your utility customers, you don’t want to miss this online discussion - Communicating Smart Meter Value.  more...

Social Media: The new frontier in recruiting, communications and marketing

Sep 13 2010 - 2010-01-01 12:00:00 - Your City

Join social media mavens Matthew Burks and Amanda Shewmake as they provide an insider's perspective on how HR, communications and marketing professionals in energy companies can harness the power of social media to be more effective and productive. more...

Eliminating Obstacles and Delivering the Benefits of the Smart Grid - IBM's Optimized Energy Value Chain (OEVC)

Sep 14 2010 - 2010-01-01 12:00:00 - Your City

The convergence of power and information technologies in the smart grid has created opportunities for finer grained and broader controls of energy flows. These opportunities can improve electric service in multiple dimensions: lower cost, greater reliability, greater customer satisfaction, and more...

Achieving Operational Excellence - What to Consider Before Implementing or Upgrading Your Distribution Management Solutions

Sep 16 2010 - 2010-01-01 12:00:00 - Your City

Significant cost over runs. Changing business requirements. A well thought out plan is essential. Attend this free webcast discussion to hear inside hear three experts in utility operations discuss what utilities need to evaluate when they are considering upgrading or more...

Outsmarting the Smart Grid: IT, Security and Communication Infrastructure  Challenges & Opportunities for Utilities

Sep 21 2010 - 2010-01-01 12:00:00 - Your City

The smart grid is shifting the playing field for utilities. And when the game changes, it pays to be prepared. A nimble solutions partner can help you design the solutions that keep operations on track, even as new challenges come more...

1st CSP Today Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Summit India

Sep 7 2010 - Sep 8 2010 - New Delhi India

Deliver a profitable, productive and commercially successful large scale CSP business in India. Building on the success of past events in USA, Europe & MENA, CSP Today brings to New Delhi the most relevant international experience for the concentrated solar more...

Offshore Wind Energy in North America's Great Lakes Conference

Sep 9 2010 - Sep 10 2010 - Toronto

Two day conference that tackles the most important challenges. A blend of European knowledge from the companies who have been installing offshore wind turbines for the last decade alongside local state governing bodies and leading project developers. Permitting, securing long more...

Autovation 2010

Sep 12 2010 - Sep 15 2010 - Austin, TX - USA

Autovation 2010 is a not-to-miss educational forum that will attract utility executives from around the world looking for new ways to optimize their operations through automation technologies. more...

Global Sustainable Bioenergy North American Convention

Sep 14 2010 - Sep 16 2010 - Minneapolis, MN - USA

The North American convention provides a remarkable opportunity to play a part in guiding renewable energy policy for the 21st century. Attendees will create a resolution that, along with similar resolutions already drafted on four other continents, will help set more...

GridWise Global Forum

Sep 21 2010 - Sep 23 2010 - Washington, DC - USA

Hosted by the GridWise(R) Alliance and the U.S. Department of Energy, the GridWise Global Forum will convene thought leaders from the highest levels of government, business, NGOS, and academia from around the world to discuss the ultimate enabling potential of more...

1. Intro to Nat Gas Trading & Hedging 2. Option Applications in Energy

Sep 20 2010 - Sep 23 2010 - Houston, TX - USA

Introduction to Natural Gas Trading & Hedging - This program provides a comprehensive understanding of the structures that underlie Natural Gas trading. Beyond Essentials: Option Applications in Energy - This course provides a solid practical and conceptual (non-quantitative) understanding of more...

Electric Business Understanding Seminar

Sep 20 2010 - Sep 21 2010 - Houston, TX - USA

Electric Business Understanding provides a comprehensive overview of the electric industry. Position yourself for career advancement by gaining a solid understanding of how the electric business works including key physical, market, and regulatory aspects and how market participants navigate this more...

Electric Market Dynamics Seminar

Sep 22 2010 - Sep 23 2010 - Houston, TX - USA

Electric Market Dynamics offers participants an in-depth understanding of North American electric markets and how they function. Enhance your career by furthering your knowledge of market structures, pricing mechanisms, services offered in markets, and how various participants use the markets more...

Gas and Electric Business Understanding Seminar

Oct 5 2010 - Oct 6 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - USA

Gas and Electric Business Understanding provides a comprehensive overview of the natural gas and electric industries. Position yourself for career success by gaining a solid understanding of how each business works, including key physical, market and regulatory aspects, as well more...

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Advanced Distribution Operations: It's About More Than Automation
3.26.09   Garrett Johnston, Grid Solutions Consultant, Trilliant Inc.

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    For much of the past few years, meter automation and demand response have been the central applications of Smart Grid projects. But now a third leg of the Smart Grid stool -- advanced distribution operations (ADO) -- is gaining increasing interest from utilities. In both informal discussions and formal processes such as RFPs, utilities are displaying new emphasis on applications such as advanced grid monitoring and interconnection of distributed energy resources. In fact, one-third of utilities plan to implement distribution automation/asset monitoring functionality while another third are considering adding such functionality, according to Chartwell's 2008 survey of 74 electric distribution utilities.

    The addition of advanced grid sensors that help improve outage restoration and asset management is a significant benefit of any Smart Grid deployment. Distribution operations enhancement can often drive the second most value beyond meter automation of all Smart Grid applications, according to estimates of various utility projects and research. Utilities -- and vendors alike -- are trying to grasp the true potential value of increased distribution functionality and identify the best path toward realizing those benefits.

    But before utilities can realize these benefits, many issues must be addressed. This paper will discuss solutions to many of those challenges including:

    1. What is the cost and actual value of using a Smart Grid network to enhance distribution operations? When will the benefits be realized?
    2. What technology and software is required to make advanced distribution operations work? What must be required of Smart Grid vendors to enable near real-time distribution-related applications?
    3. How should advanced distribution goals fit into overall corporate and Smart Grid strategies?
    4. How do current distribution enhancement opportunities differ from the complex and expensive distribution automation initiatives many utilities have doing for years? What are the additional benefits?

    <

    b>Distribution Automation vs. Advanced Distribution Monitoring

    To set the foundation of the discussion, let's answer the last question first. To understand the true value of network-based distribution applications, we must first differentiate between past capabilities -- which tended to be selective in nature -- and future capabilities which can provide more holistic, system-wide functionality such as increased reporting accuracy of false positives due to tightly integrated AMI and outage management systems.

    Many utilities will argue that they have to some degree "automated" their distribution operations. But the potential benefits of integrating Smart Grid network infrastructure-based distribution operations are much greater than simply automating distribution processes (see figure below). Utilities now have the opportunity to transform operations from reactive to proactive. Asset management is a prime example. Using timely information from Smart Grid communications, utilities can move from a comprehensive predictive-based to a condition-based asset management approach, thereby increasing utilization of transformers and other assets. Rather than waiting for a transformer to overload or replacing one simply due to expected lifecycles, utilities can now make decisions based on the actual condition of the asset.

    The difference between traditional distribution automation (DA) and advanced distribution monitoring and control is analogous to the difference between AMR (automated meter reading) and AMI (advanced metering infrastructure). While mobile (drive-by) automated the meter reading process (thereby increasing accuracy and decreasing staff and customer intrusions), the network provides the foundation for many Smart Grid applications, including distributed generation, demand response and more. Similarly, advanced distribution monitoring enabled by a Smart Grid communications is about much more than distributed automation. Distribution monitoring is about implementing advanced grid operations and applications that can potentially solve a multitude of challenges/issues including, but by no means, limited to:

    1. Asset Management: implementing intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) such as relays, reclosers and switchable cap banks
    2. Distribution SCADA: installing monitoring and controlling IEDs on the distribution circuits
    3. Advanced Outage Management (Notification / Restoration): integrating AMI and outage management systems (OMS) to help utilities reduce duration and number of outages through protection devices, smart relays and sectionalizers that can communicate and identify precise outage locations

    Justification / Business Case

    These solutions can generate potential benefits including improvements in reliability, security, O&M spend, environmental stewardship and operational efficiency. Advanced distribution operations can account for as much as 20 percent Smart Grid benefits (see chart below) including improving useful asset lives and SAIFI/CAIDI performance, and decreasing transformer failure rates and troubleshooting time through utilization of distribution network analytics.



    Using a Smart Grid network for advanced distribution monitoring requires a long-term investment and commitment. Realizing the benefits of advanced distribution monitoring may take much longer than those linked directly to meter automation and demand response because it requires complete implementation and integration of all related systems. In other words, although advanced distribution operations should be considered as part of a holistic Smart Grid strategy, the communications and software platform must be implemented and systems integrated to enable true Smart Grid applications. Once the software and systems are implemented, the utility must determine how best to turn data into "actionable information" -- such as business intelligence, root cause analysis, trending, measurement and historic/advanced analytics. Smart Grid deployments for large utilities can often take 18 months to five years to complete, and then it may take a few additional years for distribution enhancements to be realized. Of course, once the network is installed, advanced distribution operations is just one of many applications that can be enabled.

    Open Standards for Communications and IP-addressability

    The communications network is the key enabler to achieving advanced distribution operations. Nothing can be accomplished without a robust communications system that can evolve with your utility's needs. Many Smart Grid communications systems have the capability to deliver advanced grid benefits, though the level of capability varies dramatically among systems. Advanced distribution operations, like other applications, must be driven by clear requirements and objectives. As with demand response and time-of-use or any other functionality, it is best to take an application-based approach to identifying your utility's optimal Smart Grid roadmap and network.
    The communications network is the key foundational component of Smart Grid and must be able to adapt to future requirements. If the intelligent communications platform is not set as the foundation then the applications will not be enabled. Every application has specific technical and business requirements and constraints that can be addressed through the communications network (see graphic below). Hence, utilities must select an open standards communications network that can enable benefits for many of the applications for many years and decrease the risk of obsolescence.

    The term "open standards" has many different meanings to many different people. But for a communications network to truly enable advanced intelligence, it must be able to use communications devices from various manufacturers and enable communications across various systems used by utilities. Specifically, a communications network should have a standards-based approach built on three layers:
    communications devices, the medium (e.g., Internet protocol) and the language. First, to enhance migrate-ability, networks should use two-way radios that meet IEEE 802.15.4 standards and enable integration of chipsets from various manufacturers. Second, all firmware must be able IP-addressable to enable communications between any two points on the network. Third, a common language must be used to ensure that all points can provide information that can be understood by all other points on the network.

    No matter its configuration, a Smart Grid communications network must leverage open standards to ensure that advanced distribution -- and future applications -- operations can be fully realized. Advanced distribution operations is just one application enabled by a Smart Grid network. Utilities must implement a network that will evolve with the utility over the next 20 to 25 years. A network built on open standards will deliver the most flexible and cost-effective path for decreasing the risk of technological obsolescence. Many utilities will initially use their Smart Grid network to enable advanced metering and demand response before implementing advanced distribution operations and other advanced applications. But no matter what applications are on your Smart Grid roadmap, your utility will need an open standards-based , high-bandwidth communications network that can deliver the Smart Grid today -- and well into the future.

    For information on purchasing reprints of this article, contact Tim Tobeck ttobeck@energycentral.com.
    Copyright 2010 CyberTech, Inc.
     
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    Readers Comments

    Date Comment
    Bob Amorosi
    3.26.09
    Garret,

    The big message in this nice article is the need for open standards for communications infrastructure. Trilliant's AMI technology is ripe to provide this because it uses wireless 2.4GHz microwave radio for its systems based on an IEEE open standard for wireless networking that is very similar to Zigbee radio. They should be well positioned to offer the right sort of AMI infrastructure that is badly needed for Smart Grid.

    I say "should be" because Trilliant is perhaps not quite there yet. Coming from the electronics industry I know very well how open IEEE standards have driven down costs and fostered large numbers of companies to market cross-compatible personal computer software and hardware, internet application software, or cellphone products. But in the AMI or Smart Grid business, we do not have this luxury, at least not yet. Trilliant and all their competitors' AMI technologies are all still very proprietary communications networks.

    To illustrate what I mean, any third-party company cannot simply walk in off the street and develop compatible devices that will work out of the box on these AMI networks without first being vetted by the AMI provider and utility company they want to sell it to. They must first sign non-disclosure agreements, and then in developing their product they need considerable technical support from the AMI provider to become privy to their proprietary communications software protocols, and then later technical support in testing their product in the field. This is not the scenario typically encountered by companies developing computer or internet products who wish to take advantage of open technical standards.

    Alok Misra
    4.1.09
    Open Standards very true! Next Let me tell you that max benefits accrue by building and operating the networks to deliver power at cheapest cost to every indivisual customer at all times.This can only be done by real time computers. Think what would be saving if national grids are designed and operated like this. My experience -saving is five percent reduction in losses. There are two aspects Intelligent grid and smart grid. If you have a smart grid -AMI etc then job is only 20 percent done. Just think of applying Theory of transportation to transport of energy over the grid. And use cybernatic approach - this makes it intelligent! You have now quantified banefits,Go thru some Russian journals on Cybernatics! You can contact me on 0091-121-2576801 8 PM Indian time

    Alok Misra
    4.1.09
    Just to clarify ,5 percent reduction,means that if total energy losses are 10 percent- after this application of transportation theory it will be 5 percent of total energy handled. this is an enormous amount of saving ! It will pay for all the computers etc so fast that I doubt you will believe it!

    Anantharamiah Raja Rao
    4.5.09
    I wonder whether it is possible to consider that, for example, metering being such an important function there should be an independent communication network for metering only - for example ZigBee - as long as these communication systems are affordable and compatible with the communication systems for other purposes such as covered by this paper - distribution system management.

    Narayan Mishra
    5.15.09
    I am impressed to note the superiority of its application. Only thing I am unable to solve is time limit of its application for most premitive areas yet to adopt automation concept. Could you cite one or two such cases as torch bearer(s)?

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