Projects
Below are CCET projects and selected project ideas (project concepts or unfunded proposals), a short description, and current status.
Demand Response Pilot Project
CCET is leading a Demand Response program which is being conducted in both Dallas and Houston during the summer and fall of 2008. The pilot takes advantage of advanced metering technology deployed in Dallas by Oncor and in Houston by CenterPoint Energy. The pilot will test whether control of consumers’ thermostats, water heaters and pool pumps by Direct Energy, Reliant and TXU Energy will be accepted by consumers during periods of the day when wholesale electric prices are high. Consumers will have the opportunity to override thermostat controls. If the pilot succeeds, consumer acceptance may allow these retail companies to reduce purchases of the most expensive power.
Status: As of August 2008, retail electric providers have solicited participants, installed equipment and tested the systems in Houston and are in the midst of signing up participants and installing thermostats in Dallas. (See details on website homepage “DR Pilot”) .
Distribution Level Transformer Monitor Project
Development and testing of a low-cost, light-weight monitoring device that would communicate to the electric utility when a distribution level transformer shows signs of approaching failure. Initial phase involves a student contest. (See details on website homepage “IEEE Student Contest”)
Status: First phase (Fall 2008) is a student contest to develop a conceptual design. This project is underway. An innovative design could lead to prototype and testing as a CCET development project.
Remote Terminal Unit
This completed project resulted in an advanced design of a prototype distribution remote terminal unit (DRTU) that is modular in design allowing easy and low cost expansion of functionality. The design leverages an existing platform by CCET member National Instruments.
Status: Design completed in 2008.
Synchronized Sampling at Substations Project and Phasor Demonstration
The technology developed and deployed in this project is a combination of newly developed networked embedded systems for data processing using customized hardware and software solutions coupled with the synchronization of power system monitoring using advance Global Positioning (GPS) system of satellites. This project will provide more timely information for power system operators for improved monitoring and interpretation of the dynamics of grid events and conditions resulting in prevention of outages, identification of impending faults and effective switching to minimize disruptions.
Status: This one of CCET’s original projects and will continue through 2009 with a focus on substation demonstrations of alarm processors, fault location, visualization systems for operators, phasors measurement systems and improved generator and load response modeling.
Common Information Model Project
Interoperability of “smart grid” and consumer home energy management devices is hindered by the inability of the devices to communicate with each other. A task force of CCET members has been formed to promote use of the Common Information Model (CIM) to enable various applications to interoperate transparent to technology, vendor, or communications infrastructure.
Status: “Phase Zero” of the CIM study is complete and additional work is being considered. The current focus is on home area networks and AMS.
Project Ideas
Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Project Idea
A project idea that would look generally at the economic feasibility of energy storage devices and another that would examine a site-specific advanced CAES demonstration program have been proposed. Storage and demand response are two alternatives to bringing on high priced conventional generation to meet these demands.
Status: Neither proposal is under active consideration, although interest level remains high.
Development of Texas Smart Grid Lab Project Idea
Rather than a specific project, a Texas Smart Grid Laboratory would be a means to manage various CCET projects through existing university and industry facilities and ultimately a central facility that would serve as a test bed and demonstration site for new electric technologies.
Status: A white paper has been produced that has generated considerable discussion, and a formal feasibility study is under consideration.
Distributed Generation (DG) from Large Master- Planned Residential Development
There is considerable interest in addressing issues and opportunities posed by a series of master planned communities that include solar (and wind) generation as well as possible storage of electric power for community use.
Status: One or more project ideas may arise from an August 08 Technical Advisory Group visit to a community in Houston.