Utilidata Case Studies Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements with Voltage Optimization

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	Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements with Voltage Optimization Utilidata

Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements with Voltage Optimization

Utilidata

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Sensors - Voltage Sensors
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Energy Management System
Challenge	Across the nation, utility companies, state regulators and policy makers are considering many potential solutions and strategies for managing an evolving power grid and energy industry. From policy measures like the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan regulations, to the President’s first Quadrennial Energy Review, to infrastructure modernization efforts, utility companies and state regulators are in a period of intense progress and scrutiny. Of these measures, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan is particularly significant. It aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. Citing authority under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, the EPA released the final regulations in August 2015, requiring states to develop and submit state plans to achieve the federal emissions reduction goals. The Clean Power Plan also fosters a spirit of state/federal collaboration urging states to work hand-in-hand with each other and the EPA to come to optimal reduction structures. Despite the debate over the legality of the EPA’s proposed plan, utilities and regulatory bodies are already analyzing the cost and benefits of a variety of measures to respond including coal plant conversions, renewable energy investments, energy efficiency programs and more. Read More
About Customer	Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., serving more than 5 million customers in 11 states. In addition to their 5.3 million customers, they also operate over 38,000 miles of tra Read More
Customer Name	American Electric Power Read More
Solution	AEP deployed Utilidata’s VVO solution, AdaptiVolt™, across six 13.8 kV electric feeders originating at a substation in Gahanna, Ohio. Using an RF mesh telemetry network, AdaptiVolt™ communicates with eight line voltage monitors (deployed on the distribution system’s primary), fifteen field-based switched capacitor banks, two banks of mid-line voltage regulators and six banks of three single-phase voltage regulators in the substation. AdaptiVolt™ implements coordinated control of the voltage regulators and capacitor banks based on information it extracts from data it collects from all the field devices. Visibility and control of the AdaptiVolt™ system is provided to AEP system operators through their distribution management system user interface. Over a one-year period starting in 2012, AEP and Utilidata conducted an extensive M&V test on their pilot project in Gahanna, Ohio in order to validate the energy savings and voltage reduction secured with the AdaptiVolt™ VVO solution. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Sensors - Voltage Sensors

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Challenge

Across the nation, utility companies, state regulators and policy makers are considering many potential solutions and strategies for managing an evolving power grid and energy industry. From policy measures like the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan regulations, to the President’s first Quadrennial Energy Review, to infrastructure modernization efforts, utility companies and state regulators are in a period of intense progress and scrutiny.

Of these measures, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan is particularly significant. It aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. Citing authority under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, the EPA released the final regulations in August 2015, requiring states to develop and submit state plans to achieve the federal emissions reduction goals. The Clean Power Plan also fosters a spirit of state/federal collaboration urging states to work hand-in-hand with each other and the EPA to come to optimal reduction structures. Despite the debate over the legality of the EPA’s proposed plan, utilities and regulatory bodies are already analyzing the cost and benefits of a variety of measures to respond including coal plant conversions, renewable energy investments, energy efficiency programs and more.

About Customer

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., serving more than 5 million customers in 11 states. In addition to their 5.3 million customers, they also operate over 38,000 miles of tra

Customer Name

American Electric Power

Solution

AEP deployed Utilidata’s VVO solution, AdaptiVolt™, across six 13.8 kV electric feeders originating at a substation in Gahanna, Ohio.

Using an RF mesh telemetry network, AdaptiVolt™ communicates with eight line voltage monitors (deployed on the distribution system’s primary), fifteen field-based switched capacitor banks, two banks of mid-line voltage regulators and six banks of three single-phase voltage regulators in the substation.

AdaptiVolt™ implements coordinated control of the voltage regulators and capacitor banks based on information it extracts from data it collects from all the field devices. Visibility and control of the AdaptiVolt™ system is provided to AEP system operators through their distribution management system user interface.

Over a one-year period starting in 2012, AEP and Utilidata conducted an extensive M&V test on their pilot project in Gahanna, Ohio in order to validate the energy savings and voltage reduction secured with the AdaptiVolt™ VVO solution.

Benefit #1	AEP achieved a peak demand reduction of 1.5 MW and energy savings of 4.27%
Benefit #2	AEP achieved greater reliability and stability with a 30% reduction in voltage regulator operations

Benefit #1

AEP achieved a peak demand reduction of 1.5 MW and
energy savings of 4.27%

Benefit #2

AEP achieved greater reliability and stability with a 30% reduction in voltage regulator operations

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Overview

Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements with Voltage Optimization

Quantitative Benefit