Speaker: Terry Mohn
Company: General MicroGrids
General MicroGrids
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General MicroGrids, Inc (GMI) is an end-to-end solution provider for renewable energy
technologies and transformational microgrid construction.
GMI’s Balance Energy intelligent energy software platform “iESP”, manages microgrid
control, dispatchable renewable generation and resource control systems for campuses,
industrial complexes, electric cooperatives, small communities and distribution utilities.
Safe, controllable and reliable MicroGrids integrating renewable generation are
complimentary infrastructure with customer assets that increase grid reliability, stabilize
long-term energy costs, and mitigate negative environmental impact.
GridWise Alliance
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The GridWise Alliance, founded in 2003, has developed into an organization that
represents a broad range of the energy supply chain from utilities to large tech
companies to academia to venture capitalists to emerging tech companies.
This variety of stakeholders gives the Alliance a unique diversity of perspectives which
enables interactive dialogue between members.
Being a consensus based organization; the assortment of opinions produces deliberate
and highly reflected upon resolutions to key issues
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Capacity
◦ Climate legislation is uncertain
◦ Demand is increasing in spite of recession
◦ Economic environment
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Technology
◦ Data privacy, security
◦ Communication infrastructure
◦ Smart grid is new with many benefits
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Consumer
◦ Going green
◦ PV, EV, Power Meter
◦ Sustainability
 Climate
legislation is uncertain
 Demand is increasing in spite
of recession
 Economic environment
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The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) estimates that
renewable energy totaled 10.51% of all U.S. energy
production at the end of 2009. The Administration states that
it has created or saved 640,000 jobs since January 2009. This
number includes roughly 51,700 new and 11,000 saved
“green” jobs since January 2009.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
created and expanded government financing opportunities,
and to date marks the Administration’s single largest effort to
promote renewable energy.
The Obama Administration’s stated mandate is to increase
the renewable energy percentage of the U.S.’s total energy
portfolio from 7.5% to 15%, and to create 5 million new
renewable energy jobs, within 3 years of taking office (or by
January of 2012).
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Obama has commented that some sort of “price on
pollution” – specifically on this “really bad thing for
the environment” (GHGs) – would speed the
development of U.S. jobs and deployment of
cleaner energy resources.
Obama is leaving himself plenty of room to
endorse any agreement which may arise from capand-dividend, net-zero carbon tax or other
discussions, if they come together.
The FY11 White House budget proposal retained a
place holder – but no details – for a regulatory
structure for GHG emissions.
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The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,
“Waxman‐Markey Bill” and the Clean Energy Jobs and
American Power Act, “Boxer‐Kerry Bill”
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Climate legislation looks increasingly unlikely to pass. It
may be too politically controversial in an election year,
and the mid-term elections are expected to complicate
the legislative agenda. As such, more states may pass
their own cap-and-trade legislation to supplement the
29 states already having such programs.
Congress may take up a new comprehensive energy
package that would exclude climate provisions, but
include tax titles, the creation of a Clean Energy
Development Agency (CEDA, the so-called “Green
Bank”), extensions of various ARRA programs, and some
tax and non-tax incentives to promote energy efficiency
and conservation.
25
PV Solar
BioPower
NREL 2009 Report
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Since 2000, renewable electricity
installations in the United States
(excluding hydropower) have nearly
tripled, and in 2008 represent 42
GW of installed capacity.
Wind and solar PV are the fastest
growing renewable energy sectors.
In 2008, wind capacity installations
increased by 51% and solar PV grew
44% from the previous year.
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While the Legislature made
several proposals to
increase non‐wind
generation, none of the
proposals passed.
PURA 39.904(a) sets a
target of having at least
500 MW of renewable
generation other than wind.
Commission Staff issued a
strawman rule proposal in
Project No. 35792 on
January 11, 2010.
Levelized Cost of Energy US$/ kWh – California and Arizona
Cell efficiency
increase/ scale
Supply / demand
imbalance, tech
innovation, margin
compression
Grid parity
Source: EIA, team analysis
Apr 4, 2010 - Chicago Tribune
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The key challenge facing developers is that existing transmission
lines, substations and transformers are inadequate to handle the
amount of energy expected to come from wind farms
"It's easy to be green and say let's build wind but we have to think
about - how are we going to deliver that?" said Thomas O'Neill, chief
operating officer at Chicago-based Exelon Transmission Co., a unit
of Exelon Corp.
The estimated cost to move that wind power east could range from
$64 billion to $93 billion in 2009 dollars and would require 17,000
to 22,000 miles of transmission lines to be built in the eastern half
of the country alone, according to National Renewable Energy
Laboratory.
It isn't feasible for businesses to pay costs associated with the
transmission upgrades. Many withdraw their requests to hook in
once they realize the significant upgrades that would be needed,
according to Midwest ISO.
 Smart
grid is new with
many benefits
 Communication
infrastructure
 Data privacy, security
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Increased penetration of renewable energy into
the generation mix
Technology upgrades within the utility
New systemic impact occurring behind the
meter
Distributed energy resources will likely become
the normal state; therefore, how do we
integrate:
◦ analog-centric power system
◦ digital-centric information infrastructure
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Responding to these issues requires a new
approach
“It is the policy of the United States to support the
modernization of the Nation's electricity [system]…
to achieve…a Smart Grid.” Congress, EISA 2007
“We’ll fund a better, smarter electricity
grid and train workers to build it…”
President Barack Obama
“To meet the energy challenge and create a 21st
century energy economy, we need a 21st century
electric grid…” Secretary of Energy Steven Chu
“A smart electricity grid will revolutionize the way we use energy, but
we need standards …” Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke
Strategic Components
Environment – Incorporate and
Plug-In Electric
Vehicle (PEV)
Integration,
Renewable Resource
Integration
enable all generation and storage
options to support customer choice,
improve grid stability, improve power
supply options, reduce GHG
Customer – Enable energy markets
and motivate customer’s participation in
energy management through smart
energy devices, new products and
services, increased Energy Efficiency
(EE)/Demand Response (DR), adoption
of PEVs and renewable resources
Grid – Enhance the grid to reduce
customer disruptions, resist attack,
improve workforce and asset
optimization, and improve efficiency
San Francisco
In-home/in-premise
displays, control of
individual appliances,
Energy management
systems/controllers
Large Scale Energy
Storage, Phasor
Measurement Units,
Self Healing Grid,
Network
Communications
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High use of renewables – 20% – 35% by 2020
Distributed generation and microgrids
“Net” metering – selling local power into the grid
Distributed storage
Smart meters that provide near-real time usage data
Time of use and dynamic pricing
Ubiquitous smart appliances communicating with the
grid
Energy management systems in homes as well as
commercial and industrial facilities linked to the grid
Growing use of plug-in electric vehicles
Networked sensors and automated controls throughout
the grid
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Grid-wide integrated communications
◦ Internet for the power grid
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Sensing, metering, measurement
◦ Digital two-way communication devices
◦ Enable generation connect and disconnect
◦ Enhance operator information
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Advanced control capabilities
◦ Computer based grid monitoring
◦ Enables dispatch of distributed resource
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Advance grid components
◦ Energy storage
◦ Distributed generation
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Decision Support
◦ Analytics to guide grid operators
◦ Semi-autonomous agent software
Network / Telecommunications Infrastructure Overview
WAN
w ide area
netw ork
Backhau l
Medium Haul
LAN
HAN
high capacity data link
medium capacity data link
local area netw ork
home area netw ork
Wired:
Microwave
WiMAX
NetworkManagement
BackOffice
ISPInterface
Application
BPL
PLC -- Medium Voltage
PLC -- Low Voltage
PLC
Landline
Landline
Landline
CATV
CATV
CATV
FiberOptics
FiberOptics
FiberOptics
Wireless:
Cellular
Pager
Satellite
LicensedBand
UnlicensedBand
WiFi
WiMAX
CommercialCarrier
PrivateTower
Bandwidth Increasing
CAT5Cable
Wireless:
Cellular
Pager
Satellite
LicensedBands
UnlicensedBands
ZigBee
WiFi
WiMax
Proprietary
Gateway
BPL Node
PoletopDevice
Collector
# of Points Increasing
ElectricMeter
CableModem
DSLModem
BPL Modem
Wireless:
UnlicensedBands
Bluetooth
ZigBee
WiFi
Proprietary
Home Devices / CPE
Wireless
Substation / Aggregator
Data Center / Headend
FiberOptics
Wired:
BPL -- Low Voltage
Electric Meter / Portal
Landline
Wired:
BPL -- Medium Voltage
Transformer / Concentrator
Wired:
GasMeter
WaterMeter
SmartThermostat
LoadController
HomeDisplay
PC
Appliances
Phone
TV
 Going
green
 PV, EV, Power Meter
 Sustainability
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Use of EV/PHEVs can help lower
emission of pollutants, utilize less
fossil fuels as the amount of wind
generation in Texas grows, and
help address energy security
issues by reducing the amount of
imported oil.
Powering a car on electricity would
result in 93 percent less
smog‐forming volatile organic
compounds and 31 percent less
nitrogen oxide emissions than
powering a car on gasoline.
Operating costs of plug‐in cars are
likely to be significantly lower than
those of gasoline‐powered cars.
Electricity costs three to five cents
per mile with average electric
rates, or the equivalent of $0.75 to
$1.25 per gallon of gasoline.
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Consumer engagement with resources to
solve power issues locally
Two-way power flow in distribution
As prices increase, local renewables will
increase in residential, commercial, and
industrial
Imperative to transform from passive to
active control in distribution
New ways for distribution to become a
transmission resource
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Benefits
Improved grid reliability
“Green” alignment
Improved energy use and
fuel costs
Improved operating
efficiency
Market participation
New revenue sources
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Risks
Slow adoption
Lack of control
systems
No history of
aggregation success
Lack of incentives
Few investors
Regulatory hurdles
Lack of education
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Distributed resources treated as an integrated
and autonomous system
Localized to a customer, community or region
Smart grid applied towards balancing loads
with renewable’s variable generation
Must complete energy efficiency measures
Integrate storage, load shifting, base plus
variable generation with smarter grid
Participate in power, frequency and demand
markets
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Ideal for…
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University Campus
Business Park
Indian Tribal Land
Municipality
Utility Distribution
Military Base
Owned by…
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Customer
Developer
Utility
Investment trusts
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Multiple microgrids will
emerge locally
Participate in grid and
market support
They will be aggregated
They will be networked
Transactive markets will
emerge
Individually, each may offer
unique capabilities
Central management will
emerge
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Aggregate
markets
◦ New business
operators
◦ Utilities are
enablers
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Geographically
strategic
storage
Centralized Control Goal
(System Automation)
Constraints
Demand Response
Dynamically orchestrate the shedding and adding of load
and generation.
Dynamically orchestrate the connection of power
generation and storage devices.
Distributed Generation
Control and optimize the generation of power based on
cost of energy, reliability and environmental constraints.
Energy Storage
Control and optimize the storage of energy based on cost
of energy, reliability and environmental constraints.
Energy Metering
Measure, aggregate, analyze and publish energy usage.
Energy Forecasting
Analyze and predict consumption, price, generation and
failure risk.
Generate system and power profile optimization
programs.
Energy Market Trading
Perform price monitoring, negotiation and settlement.
System Monitoring
Analyze cyber security, information flow, information
quality, business processes and topology.
Generate reports and programs to optimize system
performance and provide control center visualization.
MicroGrid
Network
Data Center
Networked MicroGrids
ISO System
MGAS
Control
Node
DRSS
Participating
Loads
EMS/
BMS
ESB
Wholesale Energy Market
BE ESS
Distr
ntrol
d Co
ibute
Collaborating
MG Cells
Distributed Control
MGAS
Control
Node
MGAS
Control
Node
DRSS
DRSS
EMS/
BMS
ESB
OpenADR
EMS/
BMS
BE ESS
ESB
BE ESS
MGAS
Control
Node
DRSS
EMS/
BMS
ESB
Campus MicroGrid
Utility MicroGrid
BE ESS
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Neighborhood storage
Within municipality districts
Now in states where there are no franchises
As critical mass is reached on franchised utilities
Will need some changes to regulatory policy
Industrial Park MicroGrid
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Worldwide Capacity
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Market Sector
Breakdown
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Economic, sociologic and environmental pressures
require us to examine a new energy management
model
Distributed resources meet individual requirements
and offer larger grid support
MicroGrids allow generation, storage, and loads to
operate autonomously, balancing out voltage and
frequency issues
MicroGrid cells are scalable and can be clustered locally
as well as market opportunities
MicroGrids are a new commercial growth area
Competition will drive need for conforming
architecture and standards
General MicroGrids
Balancing Energy for a
smarter, renewabledriven grid