Integrated Network Testbed for Energy Grid Research and Technology Experimentation Project
Under the Integrated Network Testbed for Energy Grid Research and Technology Experimentation (INTEGRATE) project, NREL and partners completed five successful technology demonstrations at the ESIF.
INTEGRATE is a $6.5-million, cost-shared project between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and industry partners designed to discover how renewable energy systems and other clean energy technologies can be connected to a smart power grid in a "plug-and-play" manner—much like the way computers automatically connect to new devices that get plugged in by users. It’s part of DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative.
"It’s great to see how well our INTEGRATE partners were able to leverage the ESIF’s capabilities and identify a number of opportunities to enhance the efficiency and reliability of today’s energy grid. All five of the INTEGRATE projects point to new tools that are crucial in order for the grid to handle high penetrations of emerging renewable energy systems.” - Andrew Hudgins, NREL Energy Systems Integration project leader.
Technology Demonstrations
University of Delaware Demonstrated Vehicle-to-Grid Characteristics of Electric Vehicles
The University of Delaware developed an active state-of-charge management program that can ensure enough charge for the next trip and provide grid services, while reducing the effects of battery degradation over time and quantifying the impact of vehicle-to-grid technologies on a battery’s lifespan.
Energy Power Research Institute Shows Benefits of Grid-Connected Devices
The Energy Power Research Institute (EPRI) led a demonstration project that shows how smart, connected consumer devices can support energy demand response capabilities to enable greater use of clean energy technologies.
EPRI and Schneider Electric Demonstrate Distributed Resource Communications
EPRI also worked with Schneider Electric on a project to demonstrate a new framework for distributed resource communications, which will help utilities receive information about the state of their electric grids.
Omnetric Group Demonstrates Distributed Grid-Edge Control Hierarchy
OMNETRIC Group, a systems integration company and Siemens and Accenture joint venture, demonstrated an innovative grid edge control communications and control platform using Siemens’ Microgrid Management System and an Open-Field Message Bus framework.
Smarter Grid Solutions Enhances Grid-Hosting Capacity
Smarter Grid Solutions’ Active Network Management systems showed a flexible and innovative solution to enhance grid-hosting capacity and services for renewable energy through coordination of renewable energy generators and other types of distributed energy resources.