Siemens microgrid software to gain from Digital Grid Services
Siemens has introduced a new Digital Grid Services platform for the U.S. market, which it says will enhance its microgrid software, along with other aspects of its grid portfolio.
The platform allows utilities to better access an increasingly digital operational environment through use of cloud and managed service offerings, Siemens says.
The company offers the software-as-a-service grid management product via a subscription. Customers receive managed services, including engineering and operations expertise, and cloud-hosted environments via Siemens secure data centers.
Siemens says that its customers will gain more flexibility for their smart grid deployments, while being relieved from the cost and burden of operating complex software, hardware and networking infrastructure.
“We recognize that every customer’s business priorities and digitalization journey are different, so our aim in introducing our new Digital Grid Services platform is to provide our customers with as much flexibility and agility to make their grid systems more intelligent, reliable, and efficient,” says Mike Carlson, president of Siemens Digital Grid. “By combining software as a service and cloud-hosted environments with our expertise in engineering and operations, we will help our utility and industrial customers continue to thrive in today’s ever-changing energy landscape while keeping an eye on the bottom line.”
In addition to enhancing its microgrid software, Digital Grid Services will improve outage management systems, smart meter systems, and data management including grid and asset analytics, according to Siemens.
Read more about Siemens microgrid software play: Analysis: Is Siemens Redefining Microgrid?
First California, then the nation for hybrid electric buildings?
Advanced Microgrid Solutions has formed a partnership with Invesco Real Estate, the $71 billion real estate arm of investment management firm Invesco, to create more hybrid electric buildings.
Advanced Microgrid Solutions will start with the firm’s California real estate portfolio, and later analyze the firm’s entire US portfolio for its potential to be transformed into hybrid electric buildings.
Typically aggregated into a fleet, hybrid electric buildings become virtual power plants that offer services to the grid, such as demand response, via energy storage and advanced software.
Under the initial agreement, Advanced Microgrid Solutions will design, install and operate advanced energy storage systems at Invesco’s commercial buildings in Southern California.
The project will reduce energy demand costs at the buildings by 30 percent and provide critical support to the state’s electric grid, according to a news release issued today by Advanced Microgrid Solutions.
“In my opinion, Invesco is one of the largest and most forward-thinking real estate investors in the world,” says Susan Kennedy, CEO of Advanced Microgrid Solutions “This initiative is a great example of a corporate leader stepping up to help build a stronger, more resilient grid when and where it is needed most.”
Invesco’s first hybrid electric buildings will be in Aliso Viejo with batteries from Tesla. The systems, ranging in size from 250kW/1,500kWh to 500kW/2,000kWh, will be installed in late 2017 and will provide capacity to Southern California Edison in the highly constrained Aliso Canyon region.
Read more about hybrid electric power plants and virtual power plants.
Wesleyan microgrid goes solar
Wesleyan University library by Joe Mabel
The Hartford Courant is reporting this morning that the Wesleyan microgrid has turned on its new 750-kW solar array.
The 4,162 solar panels, provided under a power purchase agreement by Greenskies Renewable Energy, provide an additional source of energy for the project, which also incorporates combined heat and power
Located in Middletown, Conn., the college is now able to generate about 85 percent of its energy onsite, according to the article.
Wesleyan was awarded a $694,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental (DEEP) for its microgrid. It is among 11 microgrid projects to win funding from the state.
In all, Connecticut has awarded $23 million in microgrid funding under two microgrid solicitations. Applications are now being accepted in the third solicitation, which makes an additional $30 million available.
Read more about Connecticut’s microgrid funding.
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