The Growing Virtual Grid: Non-Wires Alternatives Emerge - Part 1
Inadequate electric grid capacity, reliability, stability, and quality of service have traditionally been addressed by expansion of utility network infrastructure, specifically generation, transmission, and distribution facilities (i.e., “wires” components). Environmental and other barriers, capital and O&M costs, and functional limitations increasingly inhibit their deployment and operational effectiveness. Nonutility distributed energy resources (DER), which are proliferating at an ever-increasing pace, can be helpful. These include wind generators, solar PV, combined heat and power (CHP), batteries, microgrids, premises energy management systems, smart appliances and equipment, even conservation and energy efficiency. To leverage these, new utility and nonutility monitoring and control systems (e.g., demand side management or DSM, automated distribution management systems or ADMS, and DER management systems or DERMS) are being deployed. Utilization of these and other new components and systems can reduce or even eliminate the need for additional utility wires infrastructure. Learn about these non-wires alternatives (NWA) and how they may change the planning, construction, and operation of the electric utility grid.
Part 1 will cover why NWA are needed.
Instructor
Steven Collier
Steve writes, speaks and consults widely on issues and technologies related to the smart grid. He has worked for more than forty years as a professional engineer, executive, consultant, board member for energy, telecommunications, and consulting companies in the US and abroad, including Houston Lighting & Power, Power Technologies, Inc., Sandia National Labs, C. H. Guernsey & Company, Cap Rock Electric Cooperative, the Institute for Management Development and Change, Util-LINK LLC, and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. He has BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Houston and Purdue University respectively. He has served as chairman of the IEEE IAS Rural Electric Power Committee and as a member of the board of directors of IAS. Follow Steve on Twitter as @smartgridman and connect with him on LinkedIn and IEEE Collabratec.
Publication Year: 2019
Earn 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) for completing the webinar