Electricity + Control November 2018

TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT + INSTRUMENTATION

Sensors and remote monitoring enable smarter renewables

John TA Miller and Doug Young, Black & Veatch

Growing investment in renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DER) is creating opportunities for ongoing modernisation of the grid – and the effort shows no signs of letting up. System upgrades are pressing on worldwide to support the in- crease in renewable energy while making infrastructure smarter and more resilient.

Take Note!

. The growing trend is to build large plants using smaller inverters. This offers the ability to community on a much smaller level. 1

2

T his move from centralised to distributed power generation is spurring utilities to dig- itise, reinforcing the need for data collection and analysis to ensure proper operation and main- tenance of these often unmanned assets. Along the way, it is increasing the opportunity for intelli- gent operations and planning. According to survey results from Black & Ve- atch’s 2018 Strategic Directions: Smart Cities & Utilities Report, utilities rank improving reliability, integrating DER, and improving both efficiencies and analytics (tied) as the top three challenges fac- ing distribution systems today, underscoring the need for upgrades that will address those issues and more ( Figure 1 ).

To assimilate DERs into the generation mix, utili- ties are turning to the Internet of Things (IoT), using advanced communications networks, sensors and remote monitoring capabilities to see what’s hap- pening in real time, and respond quicker. Through the integration of communications, technology and data analytics, utilities can make intelligent deci- sions and use automation to become more effi- cient. Overall, lessening disruption while enhancing optimisation, reliability, security and safety. Unlocking efficiency with data Today, the plummeting costs of embedded sen- sors encourage increased use. Placing signal devices in myriad things – electric meters, field equipment including capacitor bank and recloser controls, and solar and wind controls – directly in- forms when repair and replacement is needed by allowing operations and maintenance personnel to collect data such as vibrational anomalies or spikes in energy usage or changes in voltage. Sensors also allow vendors to remotely update equipment with warranty data or recall information, allowing for greater control and accessibility. This proliferation of sensors has advanced to enable utilities to collect massive amounts of data from their renewable installations, gracing operators with a far wider understanding of their systems and chunks of information to create actionable insights. It also opportunistically guards against disruption. Operators of wind turbines, for instance, have

What are theTOPTHREE major challenges your team is facing with your current electric distribution system? (Select top three choices)

41.5%

Improving Reliability

Integrating Distributed Energy Resources

37.7%

Improving Efficiencies

32.1%

Analytics

32.1%

Physical & Cyber Security

30.2%

Distribution Management Systems (DMS)

28.3%

Asset Management

20.8%

Common Distribution Automation Plan: Interoperability and integrating multiple

11.3%

technologies and vendor solutions

Field Area Network Communications

9.4%

36 Electricity + Control

NOVEMBER 2018