IntelliGrid Program
Utilities are increasingly deploying advanced monitoring,
communications, computing and information technologies to support such
“smart grid” applications such as wide area monitoring and control,
integration of bulk or distributed renewable generation, distribution
automation and demand response. Companies face significant challenges
when deploying these technologies, including:
- Selecting technologies that best meet current and future business needs and
regulatory requirements while minimizing the risk of early obsolescence and
vendor lock-in.
- Creating an overall architecture that integrates the many intelligent devices,
communications networks and enterprise systems to utilize resources and
provide information to all users
- Managing the tremendous amount of data that is generated by the smart grid
to convert data into actionable information and effectively present the
information to the people who need to take action.
- Managing a growing network of intelligent devices that have different
capabilities and that use different protocols and data formats in a way that
optimizes performance.
- Ensuring that the workforce has the skills necessary to design, operate and
maintain equipment and systems that use new technologies
The IntelliGrid Program will address these challenges by:
- Tracking federal government and regulatory activities relating to standards,
cyber security and communications, and interpret the impact that these
actions will have on the utility industry.
- Promoting interoperable systems by contributing to the development of key
smart grid standards, assessing emerging standards, conducting
interoperability tests of products that implement key standards and providing
information to utilities on how to implement standards.
- Defining requirements for utility communications networks and assesses key
communications technologies
- Facilitating smart grid demonstration projects around the world to better
understand and advance the use of distributed energy resources in smart
grids.