Interoperability integrates industrial generation

There is a significant opportunity for captive industrial generation to be integrated with grid operations as remote “dispatchable” resources. These remote generators could create “virtual power-plants” if they could be actively controlled by grid operations in real-time as standby resources. Such “virtual power-plants” could leverage renewables such as solar and wind farms. These integrated generation resources support grid reliability by providing power when needed. This integration of industrial generation with renewable generation is only made possible by the Smart Grid.

The idea is not exactly new. Mark Osborn, Distributed Standby Generation Program Manager at Portland General Electric, has already been actively and successfully building a business based on this concept (seek links below.)

Removing barriers

The barriers to entry need to be lowered so that “virtual power-plants” can be built and operated throughout the grid. One of these barriers is the cost and effort to integrate remote generation control systems with dispatching systems. Improved industrial-to-grid (I2G) interoperability is needed and the path-of-least-resistance is to leverage and adapt the open Ethernet-based communication protocols that are already being utilized within industrial manufacturing. To these protocols, we need to add equipment identification standards and common information models.

These protocols could also provide an integrated information pipeline for real-time pricing and demand response signals from the grid to an industrial plant for active, on-site power management. Reaching this goal will require collaboration between grid operators, industrial-standards organizations such as Open O&M, ISA and the OPC Foundation and automation vendors such as Invensys and ABB. All were well represented at Grid Interop 2007, recently held in Albuquerque, NM in November.

‘Industrial to Grid Summit’

To further this effort, an Industrial to Grid Summit is being planned for mid-2008. The intent is to pull together grid operators, standards organizations and other key stakeholders for developing a plan to move I2G interoperability beyond just a good idea to one that is real, tangible and interoperable.

Email David Hardin for Mark Osborn 'Virtual Peaking Networks' presentation (PDF)

Portland General Dispatchable Generation website