Update: Phase 2 of PowerForward kicked off this week at the PUCO. Day one of Phase 2 focused on the grid, platforms, and the grid’s core components. Speakers also emphasized the importance of standards, infrastructure, and communications to ensure that new technologies are compatible with legacy equipment. The PUCO shared its goals to “future proof” the grid to ensure technologies paid for by ratepayers are effective, provide benefits to customers, and do not quickly become obsolete.
Day two hosted speakers who focused on the requirements needed to build the grid of the future. Paul Alvarez of Wired Group emphasized the need to establish goals before beginning implementation of technologies. Mr. Alvarez also cautioned that there is no assumption that new technology will equate to customer benefits and noted that unless there is a rate case, customers may not receive the benefits of certain cost saving technologies. Day two speakers also discussed the utilization of data generated by smart grid technologies and how consumers and electric distribution utilities may use that data to help with increasing reliability, theft detection, and consumer consumption. Another panel of speakers discussed the benefits of distribution automation and “self-healing” to allow the grid to sense faults in the system and open new paths to help keep power on for consumers during outages. Ohio’s electric distribution utilities closed day two with discussions about how the utilities have been implementing new technologies and their observed results.
Day three focused on distribution system safety and reliability, distribution system planning and operations, and energy storage. Morning speakers discussed how grid-connected power sources located close to consumers have played a large role in the grid and create a two-way power flow. The speakers explained that consumers have become energy producers creating active systems. Speakers from two Ohio townships gave presentations on how their communities implemented microgrids and utilized energy storage systems. Honda also presented on electric vehicle-grid integration, energy storage, and its goal to reduce total CO2 emissions to 50% below 2000 levels by 2050.
As you may recall, the PUCO announced its intent to have 3 phases of PowerForward. The dates for phase 3 of PowerForward will be released in the near future.
