Electricity + Control November 2018

TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT + INSTRUMENTATION

enhance service levels and extend asset life. Formal asset management efforts use data to inform busi- ness decisions on the basis of risk, or the likelihood and impact of potential asset failure. However, data is only useful if it provides the right information to the right people. Data must be actively used to monitor current operations and identify trends. Although integration is specific to a utility’s needs and generating source, utilities across the board need to ensure that all assets speak the same lan- guage and are on a common, compatible platform. For example, when one system uses fibre optics, an- other goes with Ethernet, and a third RS 485, integra- tion can cost more than the value of the information received. Furthermore, the method and reliability of data communication requires careful consideration. Before integration, utilities need to thorough- ly understand their assets, and ask themselves some critical questions: • What is the configuration of the DER system? • Where is this DER asset located, relative to the electrical distribution and communications sys- tems? • What are the critical assets? • How old are the assets? • What is the condition of the assets? • How are budgets for these assets best spent? Once asset management is in place, utilities need to understand how to analyse the data. Today, new combinations of innovative and traditional technol- ogies such as Black & Veatch’s ASSET360® data analytics platform are giving utilities the ability to manage data with greater planning and operational complexity. The cloud-based platform captures, in- tegrates and analyses data from infrastructure sys- tems, assets and devices. By providing this type of analysis, platforms such as this allow utilities to make quick, actionable insights to improve opera- tions and support future planning. Addressing challenges The path to grid modernisation is no doubt chal- lenging. The ability to support a high penetration of ubiquitous sensors, automated controls and DER within the current distribution system requires fo- cus on many levels. Survey results show that 49% of respondents report system stability as the big- gest obstacle, followed by troubles with analysing DER load flows, business modelling and standard- ising interconnections.

‘smart combiners’, which monitor each string or pair of strings independently to collect data and send it to the monitoring system for software anal- ysis. This offers the most detailed level of surveil- lance and can identify underperforming strings. Although these levels of monitoring offer minute details, large-scale plants might not need that level of information. A large solar PV plant, for example, could have 300 000 modules. One individual mod- ule is 1/300 000 th of the system. So, does it make sense to monitor each individual module? By com- parison, small DER installations such as a residen- tial solar system rely on micro inverters that provide input on every single module in the system. Asset management critical to integration While more utilities are looking into comprehensive programmes that outfit equipment with sensors and remote monitoring systems, the survey results reflect an industry still determining how technolo- gy and networks will work together in the modern grid. Many survey respondents were unsure of how all the elements will play together. Many utilities, for example, already have enhanced monitoring in place but are not using it to its full potential. Data from enhanced monitoring can be used to make informed business decisions; today, only a meagre 17% of utilities are not using smart mon- itoring to track asset condition or performance in any capacity. Do your utilities currently or plan to use enhanced mon- itoring capabilities to inform capital planning? (Select one choice)

No

17,3%

Yes, primarily by using smart monitoring capabilities to provide input into assessments of asset condition and likelihood of failure (asset replacement)

Yes, primarily by using smart monitoring

38,5%

17,3%

capabilities to provide input into an assessment of asset performance vs capacity (capacity planning)

26,9%

Yes, primarily to target asset maintenance

Planning and preparation will be critical before start- ing any type of integration. Enhanced or ‘smart’ mon- itoring still is relatively new to the utility industry, and it will require a firm commitment to asset manage- ment efforts. Asset management programmes are designed to align people, processes and technology to improve operations and create cost efficiencies,

38 Electricity + Control

NOVEMBER 2018