The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) has selected Smarter Grid Solutions as a partner for its Future Grid Challenge initiative.
Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) will provide its ANM Strata distributed energy resources (DER) management platform for the pilot.
The solution provider will work with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Borrego Solar to demonstrate how smart inverters can be integrated with an advanced energy distribution management system to optimise DER management and ensure reliability of the grid network.
SGS’s was one of five winning teams announced under the first two rounds of NYSERDA’s Future Grid Challenge, which is aimed at developing solutions to integrate clean and renewable energy into the electric grid in support of Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate and clean energy goals.
Tim McDuffie, SGS senior business development engineer, said: “Many utilities are pushing forward in both grid-edge supporting technologies like smart inverters and higher-level supervisory and control networks using ADMS – we are using ANM Strata to fill the gap between smart inverters and ADMS.
“This project will begin with hardware in the loop (HIL) testing, which will allow for use cases and operating parameters to be analysed in a controlled environment using actual equipment, like smart inverters and simulated energy storage systems.
“ANM Strata’s flexibility will allow it to be essentially ‘unplugged’ from the lab equipment and connected to field equipment as part of the field deployment stage of the project. This will allow for a maximum amount crossover between lab testing to field conditions and will allow for improved HIL testing methods in the future.
“The advanced DERMS functionality to integrate, automate, and optimize the use of photovoltaic systems paired with energy storage through smart inverter control is an integral component in a clean energy transition. This project provides important steps forward in realising the full benefits for utilities and energy asset owners.”
Since 2016, NYSERDA’s Smart Grid programme has awarded approximately $53 million under 69 contracts to grid technology companies and research organizations for projects including low-cost high-accuracy grid sensors, modeling and simulation tools, and advanced engineering solutions for more effective integration of renewable energy resources.
