Xcel Energy is in the news again. This blog recently noted Xcell’s development of energy storage as key to expanding the use of renewable energy in Texas.
Now we learn from Green Car Congress that Xcel Energy has selected Boulder, Colorado as Smart Grid City, U.S.A.
Grid experts advise investing in “a digital computerized grid that can respond to decentralized generation and storage, and which will also manage demand from certain kinds of consumer and commercial appliances.”
Not only will Boulder have the opportunity to become GridWise city-wide, but also to test plug-in hybrids.
In addition to its geographic concentration, ideal size and access to all grid components, Boulder was selected because it is home to the University of Colorado and several federal institutions, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which already is involved in smart grid efforts for the federal government.
The story caught the reader’s eye because this development will include support for plug-in hybrids. Also noteworthy was the choice of the location given how much plug-in hybrid development has and is occurring in California. Of course, Colorado does have Amory “Mister $10,000 Bill on the Shop Floor” Lovins. I wonder if the Mayor of Boulder will plug-in?
Smart Grid City could feature a number of infrastructure upgrades and customer offerings—for the first time fully integrated through the partnership’s efforts in Boulder—including:
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Transformation of existing metering infrastructure to a robust, dynamic electric system communications network, providing real-time, high-speed, two-way communication throughout the distribution grid;
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Conversion of substations to “smart” substations capable of remote monitoring, near real-time data and optimized performance;
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At the customer’s invitation, installation of programmable in-home control devices and the necessary systems to fully automate home energy use; and
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Integration of infrastructure to support easily dispatched distributed generation technologies (such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid technology; battery systems; wind turbines; and solar panels).
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Big Gav has a good summary on development of a smart grid.
“You’d see ‘em wearing their baggies
Huarachi sandals… too”
Writing for World Changing, Pat Mazza has an informative post about smart buildings and the smart grid and how they could “provide huge benefits in terms of more efficient energy use, integration of on-site energy demand and generation with the grid,” and an overall better functioning of buildings so that they become “better and safer places to work and live.”
Via the Big Gav, we learn that Mother Jones has a report on smart grids – Breaking the Efficiency Gridlock.
Distributed Generation is essential to regional and national goals on emission reduction and security of supply. Use can be relatively small and localised, nonetheless, given the design of the grid as a ‘top down’ system, utilities express reluctance in regards to how much can be tolerated on each voltage level of a network. It can be difficult to discern when this reluctance is due to system inertia, outdated equipment, profit ethic and / or safety concerns
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Ball quotes from interviews with expert advocates, e.g.,
With the potential for many more varied sources of energy feeding power into the Grid, a big technology hurdle is the ability to exchange information seamlessly.
Note: Check out the Interactive Graphics and Comments accompanying the WSJ article.
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[...] feature of smart grids is a programmable in-home control device and the necessary system to fully automate home energy [...]