2015.09.30 Ameet Konkar Enabling Technologies
Enphase Energy Ameet Konkar
Renewable Energy: Barnacle or Brains of the Smart Grid?
OR
2
2|
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Renewable Energy: Barnacle or Brains of the Smart Grid? Visible
Adaptable
Controllable
Smart Inverters
Smart inverters = Smart Renewable Energy = More Reliable and More Efficient Grid 3
3|
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Leveraging all the functionality discussed to convert solar and storage into a smart asset •
•
•
4
4|
Visible – Solar production, and grid conditions (voltage, frequency) •
Distribution Operations and Planning
•
Interconnection Studies and Solutions
•
Energy Forecasting and Wholesale Market Activities
Adaptable – Future proofing for changing grid conditions •
Operating Band and Ride-through Settings
•
PF, Volt/VAR Settings
Controllable – Enhance system stability •
Dynamic Voltage Management and Volt/VAR Optimization
•
Frequency Regulation
•
Demand Response
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Visibility – Customer/circuit level
5
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Visibility example – Interconnection Analysis
6
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Adaptability example – Voltage ride through settings change •
Background •
•
KIUC and HECO requested extended trip-point settings to accommodate grid instability
Solution •
Custom settings with extended ranges • Automated updating process to push settings to field •
Result •
~800,000 units updated in a day • No service technician deployments required
7
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Controllability Example •
Voltage Management (Volt/VAR Optimization) •
Fixed power factor and Dynamic Volt/VAR • Coordinating setpoints on smart inverters with distribution system based on location • Suboptimal to keep the same setpoints continuously as requirements change per time/temperature/season
•
Real Power Management •
Controlled curtailment to optimize resource mix at peak solar production • Storage management and dispatch • Demand side management and demand response
8
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Challenges and Next Steps
9
•
Technical solutions and communication networks are in place and pilots starting to ramp up
•
Challenges around visibility and controllability are chiefly regulatory and economic • Loss of real power • Fixed and variable costs to serve • Equity issues for ratepayers due to locational variation
•
Things being discussed and proposed: • TOU and NEM Tariffs • Demand Side Programs, including Demand Response • DER Tariff • Fixed and variable compensation for asset owners • Data, Control and Settlement Service Providers
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Renewable Energy: Barnacle or Brains of the Smart Grid?
OR
2
2|
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Renewable Energy: Barnacle or Brains of the Smart Grid? Visible
Adaptable
Controllable
Smart Inverters
Smart inverters = Smart Renewable Energy = More Reliable and More Efficient Grid 3
3|
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Leveraging all the functionality discussed to convert solar and storage into a smart asset •
•
•
4
4|
Visible – Solar production, and grid conditions (voltage, frequency) •
Distribution Operations and Planning
•
Interconnection Studies and Solutions
•
Energy Forecasting and Wholesale Market Activities
Adaptable – Future proofing for changing grid conditions •
Operating Band and Ride-through Settings
•
PF, Volt/VAR Settings
Controllable – Enhance system stability •
Dynamic Voltage Management and Volt/VAR Optimization
•
Frequency Regulation
•
Demand Response
© 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Visibility – Customer/circuit level
5
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Visibility example – Interconnection Analysis
6
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Adaptability example – Voltage ride through settings change •
Background •
•
KIUC and HECO requested extended trip-point settings to accommodate grid instability
Solution •
Custom settings with extended ranges • Automated updating process to push settings to field •
Result •
~800,000 units updated in a day • No service technician deployments required
7
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Controllability Example •
Voltage Management (Volt/VAR Optimization) •
Fixed power factor and Dynamic Volt/VAR • Coordinating setpoints on smart inverters with distribution system based on location • Suboptimal to keep the same setpoints continuously as requirements change per time/temperature/season
•
Real Power Management •
Controlled curtailment to optimize resource mix at peak solar production • Storage management and dispatch • Demand side management and demand response
8
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
Challenges and Next Steps
9
•
Technical solutions and communication networks are in place and pilots starting to ramp up
•
Challenges around visibility and controllability are chiefly regulatory and economic • Loss of real power • Fixed and variable costs to serve • Equity issues for ratepayers due to locational variation
•
Things being discussed and proposed: • TOU and NEM Tariffs • Demand Side Programs, including Demand Response • DER Tariff • Fixed and variable compensation for asset owners • Data, Control and Settlement Service Providers
| © 2015 Enphase Energy, Inc. | CONFIDENTIAL
