Dynamic Distribution

Brian Deaver analyses the role of System Optimization and how can it help utilities improve distribution efficiency and control.

“System Optimization creates a dynamic distribution grid capable of optimizing on energy efficiency, environmental or operational targets”
-Brian Deaver, CURRENT Group

The application of intelligent monitoring and control does not widely extend beyond the substation, so utilities presently rely on engineering models and local controls to regulate voltage and power factor. As a result of these present methods of regulating voltage and power factor, the typical distribution system does not dynamically adjust to minimize losses or optimize delivered voltage levels to customers. System Optimization creates a dynamic distribution grid capable of optimizing on energy efficiency, environmental or operational targets.

To deliver System Optimization to utilities, CURRENT installs intelligent sensors at strategic locations on distribution feeders that are connected by a high-speed, low-latency communications network. These sensors provide real-time information to analytical software where it is combined with geospatial, asset, SCADA and other operational data from capacitor banks, substations and other distribution devices to determine the correct actions to regulate voltage and VAR levels dynamically throughout the day. This enables utilities to flatten and lower delivered voltage levels, while reducing line losses. 

Like many other industries, the challenges facing the electric utility industry will require an evolution to a more self-healing, self-optimizing grid. The lack of real time monitoring and dynamic adjustments prevents utilities from optimizing the amount of power necessary on the system as it fluctuates during the day. While historically this has not mattered, in a carbon constrained world, excess power requirements result in excess carbon emissions and higher costs. To address these concerns, System Optimization offers dynamic control of voltage and reduces technical losses, enabling utilities to serve their customers more efficiently per kilowatt-hour generated, and lowering the total generation and associated carbon emissions. In addition, dynamic control of the distribution grid can facilitate intermittent renewable integration, as well as help improve generation dispatch and transmission operations.

The result is a unique method of driving more value from a Smart Grid by enabling automated control of voltage and VAR flow throughout the distribution system capable of reducing the overall electricity needed to service utility customers by up to five percent. This is particularly helpful for utilities in states that have energy efficiency, carbon reduction, power factor or peak load requirements.

System Optimization can be installed on a substation-by-substation basis and typically has a payback within a couple of years. This solution is applicable to the entire distribution system, which makes the savings provided easier to achieve than other efficiency and control technologies. It represents a low-cost, high-value energy efficiency solution that does not directly impact consumers or require a change in their behavior. Utilities can base the optimization upon minimizing losses, optimizing voltage, integrating renewables, minimizing the environmental impact or any combination thereof. System Optimization can also be utilized as a virtually dispatchable generation resource because the load reduction can be measured and verified in real-time. 

However, it is important to note that System Optimization requires high-speed, low latency communication. By definition, a smart grid is an advanced system that incorporates widely distributed intelligent sensors and employs real-time communications to sense and correct inefficiencies and disturbances automatically on the electric distribution system. In transitioning the distribution network to a dynamic self-healing, self-optimizing grid with real-time feedback control, information from sensors and points of control (e.g. line capacitors, voltage regulators, and substation load tap changers) must be provided to the analytical applications, and optimization decisions must be made and controls must be initiated.

To get this level of control on a large scale requires intelligent sensors that continually pre-process measurements and only communicate relevant information using high speed, low-latency communications systems that move this information to the centralized analytical applications and a highly scalable analytical software platform. This information is then combined with data from other utility systems to initiate intelligent control decisions – all within a few minutes or less depending on the applications.

Brian Deaver is Vice President of Product Management for CURRENT Group, a leading provider of Smart Grid solutions. Mr. Deaver spent 20 years with Baltimore Gas & Electric. Among his accomplishments, he led BGE’s award-winning Distribution and Substation Automation projects. Mr. Deaver earned his BSEE from the University of Maryland.