With renewable energy prices falling and public concern for the environment rising, communities are driving for increased levels of renewable and distributed generation. The distributed and variable nature of renewables creates challenges for an electrical grid built for centralized generation and predictable loads. At low penetration levels, utilities may be able to ignore the effects of renewable and distributed energy resources (DER) but as levels rise, a new approach is required to integrate and manage the vast amount of DER that is driving the grid of the future.
Spirae’s BlueFin® Control provides the distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) capabilities to integrate these new resources. The BlueFin DERMS distributed architecture and control algorithms create an ‘active’ distribution management system to control the renewable and distributed energy resources in support of utility and community goals. Typical DERMS applications include integration of high levels of renewables to offset carbon and reduce cost, and microgrid operations for security, resiliency and market participation. BlueFin DERMS integrates with traditional utility tools such as DMS and SCADA systems, aggregating and exposing the capabilities of the DER. BlueFin DERMS also integrates with utility databases and other systems such as CIS, OMS and AMI.
BlueFin DERMS views all DER assets as a portfolio of resources to coordinate. For example, wind or solar PV generation may be balanced with distributed synchronous generation (e.g., natural gas, biogas or diesel), inverter based generation (controlled or uncontrolled) and flexible loads (through demand response or direct control) to firm the renewable output for grid support, participation in markets, or grid-independent microgrid operation. Electrical or thermal storage may also be integrated to provide additional flexibility.
Spirae has experience in the integration of an array of resources in diverse distribution networks spanning the intelligent control of feeders and substations to direct control of appliances with dynamic pricing signals. With this expertise, Spirae seamlessly brings these technologies into the grid while quantifiably improving system efficiency and strengthening system function.
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