Connecting Renewable Energy to a Smarter Grid

Transmission Lineman
photo: mnorri, some rights reserved

There are many hurdles for connecting renewable energy projects to the existing electric power grid. Transmission lines already operate near full capacity. Substations may not handle new interconnections. Regulatory processes span state and federal authorities, and interconnection standards vary from state to state. Plus, it's not clear how to best allocate costs for infrastructure improvements between utilities, energy developers, and rate-payers.

The good news is that both industry and government groups have invested in research on how to better connect renewable energy projects to the grid and how to construct a smart grid that can support a clean energy future. While there is clearly need for technology improvements, much of the research points to improved policies, consistency in standards, and adoption of best practices. Here are recently released reports on these topics.

The sixth edition of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's (IREC) Connecting to the Grid Guide provides a comprehensive introduction to a span of topics that relate to grid-tied renewable energy sources. The sixth edition has been revised to include information on IREC's recently updated model procedures, alternative billing arrangements for net metering, energy storage and several other emerging issues in the field. This guide is designed for state regulators and other policymakers, utilities, industry representatives and consumers interested in the development of state-level interconnection and net metering policies.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory system, hosts a Modern Grid Strategy web site that regularly issues whitepapers. The Transmission Smart Grid Imperative outlines the technologies that are ready to be deployed while considering the complexities of building consensus for new transmission construction. Accomodates All Generation and Storage Options defines how a smart grid can be powered by small distributed energy resources (DER) which include both distributed generation and storage, as one of seven "Smart Grid Principal Characteristics" identifed by NETL.

Perspectives for Utilities & Others Implementing Smart Grids by The Smart Grid Stakeholder Roundtable Group represents the outcome of meetings with a range of stakeholders including state agencies, consumer groups, environmental groups, commercial and industrial consumers, utilities and public utility commissions. The report was sponsored by the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability with the goal "to help utilities and other smart grid project developers better communicate how and why they think smart grid technologies will benefit consumers and the environment, as well as the overall electric system in general."

Under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), partnering with DOE and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has "primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of smart grid devices and systems..." The NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 1.0 is a draft of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid devices and systems. NIST has currently identified 16 initial standards and is considering an additional 46 potential standards.

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Missouri Legislators-Zip Code 63109

Recently I posted some interesting facts about our Government Leaders and their ties to Big OIL. I will be: 'contacting and reporting' the findings of my areas Missouri Legislators Stance on Renewable Energy Producing Systems and Weatherization.

Prior Articles can be found:

Our Sorry Ass Politicians and Renewable Energy Policy

I've been secretly hoping our chosen leaders were directing our Nations Energy Policy in the right direction. When I read articles such as this one I get T-d off.LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!! If you...

St Louis Renewable Energy: Politics and Climate Change July News

Jul 29, 2010-Politics and Climate Change July News. Hot enough for you? It's not hot enough for our Senators, clearly. Record-breaking temperatures around the country and around the globe didn't cause any groundswell of support for climate ...

St Louis Renewable Energy: Oil and US Politics-Following the Oil Money

Jul 29, 2010-You can also check contributions during political campaigns. Barack Obama received $898, 251 from oil companies during his winning 2008 campaign, most of that coming from ExxonMobil ($113646). BP gave President Obama $39405. ...

The zipcode you entered, 63109-3558, is currently in:

• Senatorial district 001 - Senator Jim Lembke
• House district 066 - Representative Michael Vogt
• U.S. House district 03 - Congressman Russ Carnahan

At the time of this posting I have sent emails to the above people, Scotty


Your statewide elected officials are:

• Governor Jay Nixon
• Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder
• Secretary of State Robin Carnahan
• State Auditor Susan Montee
• State Treasurer Clint Zweifel
• Attorney General Chris Koster

Your US Senators are:

• Senator Christopher 'Kit' Bond
• Senator Claire McCaskill

Email Sent to the Senators above, with Request on their Views and Stance in regard to: Renewable Energy and Weatherization- Aug 1st. Scotty
--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Home Energy Calculators

Finally a home energy meter that is easy to use. If you are seeking efforts to cut your energy use-age. The Micro Soft hohm energy meter can aid in reducing your energy use-age.

Dear Hohm user:

Here at Microsoft Hohm, we listened when you asked for a more immediate way to monitor and manage your home energy use. And today, we have great news: we're thrilled to announce that the Hohm-compatible PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi from Blue Line is now available!

Blue Line's PowerCost Monitor WiFi is a portable, wireless device that's easy to install (no electrician required!) and easy to use. It wirelessly sends your near real-time energy use to Hohm, providing you with more detailed energy use information than your monthly utility bill. You can view and track changes in energy use almost instantly, discovering potential energy waste in your home and areas where you can save. With Hohm and the PowerCost Monitor WiFi, you can now:

• See moment-to-moment energy use and costs
• Measure how much specific appliances are costing you, in dollars and electricity
• Track long-term energy use, which you can reset as often as you wish

Why is this a big deal? Studies show that consumers who are aware of their energy use can save up to 18% on their home energy bill on average. Just take a look at the graph below for an example: At about 9:15, Mike turned on his air conditioner for a few minutes after cleaning out the compressor. You can see the spike in energy use that it caused. At about 2:30, Mike turned on the air conditioning and let it run. That's where you see a spike followed by consistent energy use at close to 6 kilowatts. At about 3:15, one of Mike's kids also turned on a hair dryer- that's the next spike you see. Hohm captured all this information from the Blue Line device in near real time and made it easy to see and understand.

We think seeing near real-time energy data will make people smarter about how much energy things in their house use, and help them make better decisions accordingly. So if you've ever wondered how much energy you're really saving when you adjust your thermostat or wash your laundry in cold water versus hot, Hohm and Blue Line will help you find out the answer! Get the PowerCost Monitor WiFi today, and be one of the first to try it out and tell your friends! For more info on the PowerCost Monitor WiFi,

Thanks!

The Microsoft Hohm team

-- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Our Sorry Ass Politicians and Renewable Energy Policy

I've been secretly hoping our chosen leaders were directing our Nations Energy Policy in the right direction. When I read articles such as this one I get T-d off. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!! If you need help finding your legislators I'll be glad to assist. email me

Why We Advocate July 29, 2010

An anecdote, to start with…

A colleague, on a recent visit to Washington DC, found himself in conversation with a recently retired, well-known and -respected U.S. senator. He took the opportunity to ask him what it would take for a congressman to vote for an issue that he knew in his heart was right for the country and the planet, irrespective of partisan attachments and personal considerations. The retired senator (whom, in order not to betray a trust, we will not name, but who is known as a strong supporter of energy independence) replied that only when the congressman no longer needed an influx of money, e.g., after he had decided not to run for office again, might this happen. Until then he would always vote in accordance with his source of funding, working hard to produce whatever arguments were needed to justify his vote.

Lamentably, the above is probably not particularly surprising to readers. The pernicious influence of 'big money' in politics (one would say 'campaigns' except that campaigns seem to be a permanent condition of politics today) is well known, but it's sobering to hear a veteran legislator sympathetic to renewable energy confirm, in effect, that until our industry can throw money at his former colleagues with as much abandon as does the fossil fuel industry, then that latter industry can absolutely count on congressional votes in its favor. What works for the country, what is needed for the health of the planet, what can revitalize American jobs and create new industries here will always lose out to the demands of the campaign chest.

Unless…

Well, there's always an 'unless', isn't there? And in this case, it came from the retired senator, who asserted that the only exception to the above-described dynamic would occur if the congressman were convinced that enough constituents would predicate their vote for or against him on a single issue, to negate the effects of massive campaign contributions.

And that's why we advocate. We beat the drum for solar energy and all the reasons why it makes sense - energy independence, climate regulation, clean energy, sustainability and more - because we want our elected legislators to hear something other than the sound of money falling into their war chests. And we work for the day when those legislators turn to their deep-pocket corporate contributors and say (apologetically) that they would like to oblige them on this upcoming vote, but there are so many voters in their districts demanding action on clean energy that, for once, they have to do what the people want.

Wouldn't that be special?

Article sent by email to me from: http://www.solar-nation.org

This is a follow-up to articles:

• St Louis Renewable Energy: Oil and US Politics-Following the Oil Money

You can also check contributions during political campaigns. Barack Obama received $898, 251 from oil companies during his winning 2008 campaign, most of that coming from ExxonMobil ($113646). BP gave President Obama $39405.

• St Louis Renewable Energy: Oil and Gas Political Contributions

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center. ..

• St Louis Renewable Energy: Politics and Climate Change July News

Politics and Climate Change July News. Hot enough for you? It's not hot enough for our Senators, clearly. Record-breaking temperatures around the country and around the globe didn't cause any groundswell of support for climate ...

• Politics as usual-The bill is SJ Res. 26.

Obama's greenhouse gas rules survive Senate vote ... Build Green, Scotty -- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com