Scotland-based energy software provider Smarter Grid Solutions and Avangrid have implemented a US grid integration project that has the potential to more than double wind and solar generation connections.
The Flexible Interconnect Capacity Solution (FICS) project has successfully connected three new 5MW PV solar farms in Spencerport, New York to Avangrid’s electric network using the Strata Grid distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) platform.
According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Smarter Grid Solutions’ DERMS technology could increase grid hosting capacity by up to 200%, far beyond conventional technical limits and levels traditionally required for grid reinforcement.
The technology allows large-scale producers of renewable energy resources to easily connect to a power network where previously the network was judged to be at full capacity.
The application of the DERMS technology “significantly reduces” grid integration costs compared to traditional connection costs and is believed to be the first-of-its-kind in the US.
Outlining the significance of the project, Stuart McMahon, principal smart grid engineer at Smarter Grid Solutions, said: “The costs of these upgrades are commonly the responsibility of the energy resource developer – costing millions of dollars and making many projects commercially and financially unviable.
“Our DERMS technology allows large-scale producers of renewable energy resources like these to more efficiently connect to the electric power grid by removing this risk.”
The Strata Grid platform supports flexible interconnection agreements by applying real-time control capability to distributed energy resources, as demonstrated at the new solar farms in Spencerport.
It prevents additional renewable energy assets from overloading grid assets and, in doing so, optimises grid capacity whilst avoiding the upgrades and resulting costs that would be required under a firm interconnection.
The FICS project is one of Avangrid’s several efforts to support New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative, which aims to change the way electrical grids work within the state.
The Spencerport solar PV projects were initially approved for only a combined 2.6MW of firm connection.
However, using Strata Grid technology, the full 15MW interconnected.
Flexible interconnection technology has matured in the UK over the past 10 years, with SGS having successfully deployed Strata Grid DERMS technology across multiple utilities, including UK Power Networks, SP Energy Networks and Western Power Distribution.