Smart grid projects: the small and the mighty

By Liz Enbysk

SGN Managing Editor

Understandably, we hear a lot about the smart grid initiatives that big utilities are involved in. But there are some pretty interesting projects and pilots happening away from the limelight - in smaller utilities, cooperatives and out of the way places. A few that caught our attention are highlighted below.

GE teams with Flathead Electric Cooperative on peak-time pilot

Out in Montana, GE smart-grid enabled products are part of a two-year, 150-household pilot project involving Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) customers.  The objective is to give FEC's volunteer households an opportunity to reduce their energy bills while helping the cooperative determine the most cost-effective and member-friendly ways to reduce the amount of peak-time power costs.  The households will each receive a GE Nucleus energy manager, GE programmable thermostat, and GE Profile washer, dryer and dishwasher. They'll also receive FEC Peak Time rebates and an opportunity to deploy their own energy network. Pictured here is the GE Nucleus energy manager designed to help consumers better track and control their home energy use and costs. (Graphic courtesy General Electric). Learn more about the Peak Time project>>

Elsewhere in Montana, Beacon Power test drives its flywheel technology

Beacon Power has partnered with NorthWestern Energy to integrate its 1-megawatt flywheel energy storage system in to the Dave Gates Generation Station at Mill Creek near Anacona, Montana. As Beacon Chairman Virgil Rose notes: "Today's utilities face numerous challenges in maintaining stable and reliable electricity grids, especially with the increase in intermittent renewable energy resources like wind and solar." He says Beacon's fast-responding flywheel systems can be an ideal complement to conventional regulation methods. Later this year when the system is operational, Beacon and Northwestern intend to work together to develop the flywheel system's control signal algorithms to determine the best ways to optimize performance at the generation station. Learn more about the project >>

Siemens brings renewables-based power to Mallorca

This island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain (called Majorca in English) is a popular tourist attraction. It's also where Siemens has delivered high-voltage direct- current (HVDC) technology that allows the utility - Red Eléctrica de España – to link the island with the Spanish mainland via an undersea electricity highway. In the future, Siemens says a significant chunk of the island's power demand will be met using wind, solar and hydroelectric power which is produced on the mainland. “This project is representative of a trend in Europe: Power grids are distinctively coming closer together," explained Michael Suess, CEO of Siemens Energy. "With our HVDC technology renewables-based power can be transmitted over long distances with low losses." Pictured here is the island HVDC station in Santa Ponsa that is connected to the mainland via a submarine cable link with a length of 244 km. Learn more about the HVDC technology >>

Next page: A Vermont coop and the sun shines on 'Mayberry'