Everyone knows the grid is in rapid motion. We have a chance, even an obligation, to make huge strides. Yet, the many new technologies add significant complexity and seemingly limitless scenarios. As a result, proper planning seems nearly out of reach - traditional planning tools are simply not up to the task.
Pat Hohl: I met Chase Lansdale, PE, at Distributech—a personable and sharp engineer demonstrating exceptional distribution analysis -- aimed squarely at the future grid. So naturally, I immediately wanted to know more. So Chase, in a nutshell, what makes your approach unique?
Chase Lansdale: We know change is coming, and traditional methods need to be rethought. Our approach to grid analysis is unique because we're modernizing transmission and distribution analysis by running on live data. We're cutting out the need for expensive ETL (Export-Transform-Load) processes so often required in the past to prepare for analysis. We're opening the door to web-based collaboration and provide the cutting-edge tools necessary for scalable modern grid analysis.
Pat Hohl: How do you expect utilities will apply this capability, and what impacts can they expect?
Chase Lansdale: Thanks to Esri's advanced Utility Networks, utilities provide their planning engineers and operators with valid, up-to-date network models. Full access to monitored data streams like AMI and SCADA create realistic, time-series profiles. The models and profiles all come together to run next-generation grid studies, such as time series power flow. Going further they permit network optimizations with strategies like Volt/VAR or T&D SCED (Transmission and Distribution Security Constrained Economic Dispatch).
As a result, I expect a greater collaboration between operations, GIS, and system planning as they work together on the same datasets. Utilities can finally answer the nagging questions of the energy transition, such as knowing what problems will arise from increased vehicle electrification and how to address them or identifying the ideal size, location, and control behavior for solar, storage, and other DER projects.
Utilities can thoroughly plan for how they operate and operate how they plan.
Pat Hohl: That vastly differs from traditional T&D analysis; what changed that enables ENER-i.AI to implement this vision?
Chase Lansdale: We've had this vision since 2014: in order to effectively operate the future grid, we must enable the holistic study of a complete, integrated grid covering Transmission, Distribution, and Generation (both large-scale and at the DER level). This is what we set out to do.
Our approach was to partner with and augment existing tools to prepare for the transition. As a result, there have been two enabling technological advances:
First, advancements in GIS technology and modeling strategies influenced heavily by Esri's Utility Network allowed us to integrate directly and perform engineering analytics. This gives engineers an accurate representation of their network every time they go to achieve their analyses. This represents a giant leap forward toward consolidating network information into a single source of truth.
Second, cloud computing and scalable microservices allowed us to embed planning algorithms and integrations into modules that can scale up and down as needed. Finally, cloud strategies leverage massive computing power that would have previously only been available using supercomputers.
Pat Hohl: Can you provide a brief example?
Chase Lansdale: Let's say you have rapid growth in a residential area. There's an increase in electricity demand resulting in voltage and power quality issues. Perhaps the utility is considering system reinforcement projects costing millions and also non-wire alternatives. V2G batteries in off-duty EVs as distributed resources could provide voltage support.
Our software can analyze the network's location, size, and dispatch of such distributed resources. We help utilities aggregate data on the location, charging patterns, capacity, and availability to provide grid support during peak demand. We can model how the batteries can best provide grid services and the most effective strategy to do so.
Pat Hohl: Optimizing these new options is exactly with many are struggling with today. I'm curious about what you're working on next – what do you think ENER-I.AI will be doing five years from now?
Chase Lansdale: Our vision is to enable complete co-simulation of transmission and distribution networks. As distributed resources and electric vehicles increase on our distribution grids, they will also have an increasingly large impact on the bulk power system. Today, we are working on integrating our transmission models and traditional transmission planning methodologies with distribution analytics to give a holistic view of the overall power grid.
This new planning methodology will save customers millions, potentially even billions, by introducing new market and operation strategies accounting for every available resource in our arsenal. We do this by collaborating with other industry software and data analytics players, bringing the best engines and information to our analytics to plan and operate the future holistically integrated grid.
Pat Hohl: Thank you for a fascinating look at state-of-the-art analysis. Where can readers look for more information?
Chase Lansdale: See more about our exciting journey at ENER-i.com, connect with us on LinkedIn, or email me at [email protected].
Chase Lansdale is a Professional Engineer and Director of Product Marketing at ENER-i.AI. He advises on transmission and distribution modeling strategies and oversees successful customer implementations of the company's cloud-based technologies. Before ENER-i, Chase worked as an engineer for ENER-i's sister company, Electric Power Engineers. As a result, he gained experience working in various departments, such as utility distribution planning, transmission contingency planning, and dynamic generator modeling. Even prior, Chase designed electrical systems for SpaceX and served as a legislative assistant in the Texas House of Representatives.