Distribution

Distribution GIS and Grid Model Data Management

Northern Ohio Building-to-Grid Integration Demonstration

DOE Solar Utility Networks: Replicable Innovations in Solar Energy (SUNRISE)

EPRI recently completed the DOE-funded SUNRISE project. This two-year project was designed to help utilities assess the strategic planning implications of increased levels of utility scale and rooftop solar power. EPRI worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Southern Company, and its affiliates, to apply a set of innovative planning and operational simulation tools, developed under our core research on renewable integration in distribution and bulk systems, to these two Southeast utilities.

RealValue Project

RealValue commenced in June 2015 and is a €15.5m European energy storage project funded by Horizon 2020, the largest Research and Innovation Programme in Europe (€12M funding from the EC). RealValue will use a combination of physical demonstrations in Ireland, Germany and Latvia along with innovative modelling techniques, in order to demonstrate how local small-scale energy storage, optimised across the whole EU energy system, with advanced ICT, could bring benefits to all market participants. The duration of the Project is 36 months.

Distributed PV and Load ForecastingUnderstanding Impacts of Distributed Photovoltaic (PV) on Load Forecasting: Assessment of Different Approaches, Data Required, and Performance

This project addresses relationship between solar, forecasting and load forecasting performance for different end uses. It examines data requirements to improve behindthe-meter PV consideration in load forecasting for different penetration levels, applications and power system size. It provides guidelines on using existing data sources and investing in new measurement technology for solar forecasting.

Smart Grid Ready PV Inverters with Utility Communication: Results from Field Demonstrations

Developing, implementing, and field-testing photovoltaic (PV) inverter grid-support capabilities is needed to provide better understanding of these technologies, inform the best way to utilize these resources, and identify any challenges associated with their implementation. In 2011, EPRI began a four-year effort under the Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative: Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems – Advanced Concepts (SEGIS-AC) to demonstrate smart inverters with utility communication systems. The project had five key activities: development of new advanced PV inverters (based on existing models), laboratory testing of the new inverters, computer modeling and simulations of the inverters and several distribution feeders, deployment of the inverters in the field, and testing at four demonstration sites.

Report: Time and Locational Value of DER: Methods and Applications

This study illustrates the complexity and implications of incorporating DER into the distribution system to address distribution loading issues. The wide range of results from the case studies suggests that the value of DER is not uniform across a distribution system, and cannot be simply determined by applying generalities about feeder characteristics like MW served, or any other single performance metric. Refinements will be required, and approaches will evolve by producing actionable recommendations based on the detailed study of circuits, the physical characteristics of DER contributions, and customer characteristics.

Feasibility Study for Utility-Compatible and Grid-Interactive Microgrids

The overall aim of this project is to show different applications where microgrids are compatible, complimentary, and appropriately interactive with the existing grid. Taking an integrated grid approach, feasibility studies are expected to be customized for the specific technical and economic conditions of individual utility service territories.

Distribution Planning for DER: System-Wide Assessment

EPRI is implementing the learnings from the streamlined hosting capacity method to further advance the systemic capability to effectively evaluate distribution impacts from DER. This project will implement this toolset (Distribution Resource Integration adn Value Estimation – DRIVE) into distribution planning tools.

Southern Energy Storage Demo