Smart Grid
Vision
Electric Grid Modernization Steering Committee
Grid Facing Technology Subcommittee
January 14, 2013
1
Overview
KEY OBJECTIVE
BENEFITS
FUTURE VISION
COMPANY ACTIVITIES
KEY CONCERNS
2
Key Objective
Provide safe, reliable, cost effective
electric distribution service to all
customers (load and generation)
3
Smart Distribution Grid Key Benefits
• Reduced outage duration
IMPROVED
RELIABILITY
• Reduced number of customers impacted by outages
• Enhanced knowledge of customer outages & restoration status
• Protection against overload conditions
• Timely and accurate restoration information for customers
• Safe and reliable interconnection capabilities
EFFECTIVE DG
INTEGRATION
• Reduced operational impact from distributed resources (power quality,
reliability, utility system integrity)
• Opportunities for improved resiliency
IMPROVED SYSTEM
EFFICIENCY &
POWER QUALITY
ADVANCED ASSET
MANAGEMENT
• Reduced line losses
• Reduced total energy usage
• Elimination of power quality impacts experienced by customers
• Reduced maintenance expenses
• Reduced associated failure expenses
• Deferral of replacement capex
4
The Smart Grid Benefits All Stakeholders
The Smart Grid will create a digital energy system that
integrates new tools and technologies from generation,
transmission, and distribution all the way to consumer
appliances and equipment.
Self-Healing Wide-Area Protection
Distributed Generation & Alternate Energy Sources
Optimization and Improved System Efficiency
Asset Management and On-Line Equipment Monitoring
Source: Adapted from EPRI.
5
Future State of the Grid – Systems
CHARACTERISTIC
FUTURE STATE
Loading
Real time load data monitoring drives recognition of overload
condition in advance of problem and self corrects allowing for full
utilization of assets.
Equipment
Fault Response
Remote monitoring and control of key equipment enables
predictive response to problems and creates operational
efficiencies.
Immediate identification and isolation of fault location to smallest
possible circuit segments, restoring all others.
6
Future State of the Grid – Customers
CHARACTERISTIC
FUTURE STATE
Power Status
Ability to identify customer status during an outage event enables
faster restoration at the final stages of the event.
Power Quality
Status
Voltage data collected from multiple points allows for
identification and correction of problems before customers
experience negative impacts.
Distributed
Generation and
Storage
Safe and reliable interconnection of DG and Storage is
widespread. All generation and storage is continuously monitored
in support of system power quality and grid resiliency is
enhanced.
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Investment Considerations
Systems
Security
Communications
8
Smart Grid Experience to Date
Improved
reliability
>
Installed more than 2,000 switches throughout service territory
>
Over 5,000 sensors monitoring the electric grid
>
Expanding DA program and capabilities as part of $20MM US DOE ARRA Project
WMECO
NSTAR
›
Moving towards full Auto-Restoration
>
Automated Vacuum Fault Interrupters (VFI) allowing for automation on underground switches
>
DigitalGrid Network Reporting using power line carrier communications
›
Monitors 100% of the transformers (~1,500 total) on underground secondary network in Boston &
Cambridge to provide near real-time data to SCADA system.
›
Technology is installed and enabled at every network transformer in our secondary network
>
Transmission Sensors and SEECO Switches
>
Digital communication system and high speed fiber-optic rings
>
Overhead System Automation via reclosers and recloser loop schemes
›
New radio infrastructure installed 2008 allowed for wide spread DSCADA deployment
›
Approximately 53% of customers served by the overhead system are a part of a loop scheme
>
Motor operated switches with advanced remote terminal units (RTUs)
>
New Packet Radio System
9
Smart Grid Experience to Date
Effective DG
Integration
>
$10MM Urban Grid Monitoring & Renewables Integration (US DOE ARRA Pilot)
NSTAR
› Enhances visibility into status of underground secondary network in
downtown Boston
› Improves reliability and ultimately allows for testing the integration of
inverter-based renewable generation onto the secondary network grid
WMECO
› Direct Transfer Trip using Distribution Automation, lowers installation cost
>
“Power Tag” pilot project underway to test the feasibility of a lower cost solution
to detect an islanding condition
>
WMECO’s 4.1 MWs of solar generation provide opportunity to study the impact
of distributed generation on the utility grid
10
Key Concerns on the Path to Smart Grid
• Investment prioritization (costs versus benefits)
• Current smart grid investment plan
• Optimal speed and pace of deployment of new
technologies
• Timeline of technology obsolescence
• Beneficiary pays
• Differences among utilities (e.g. rural versus
urban, size, system design, planning processes,
regulatory constructs)
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Summary
Smart Grid’s central purpose is to cost effectively improve
the reliability, efficiency, and security of the electrical
system
• Maintaining reliability continues to be a major focus area
as distributed resources and electric vehicles become more
commonplace
• Deployment of grid modernization programs must be
conducted with a focus on capturing efficiencies and longterm value for customers
• Pilots of new technologies represent a valuable
opportunity to quantify costs and identify potential
benefits in order to inform implementation decisions
• Excellent communication and shared objectives among all
stakeholders is critical to the success of grid modernization
programs
•
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