MAXIMIZING STORAGE INVESTMENT

Gaining real-time control over strategically placed energy storage is a high-value opportunity for utilities. The open, flexible design of GridPoint’s software provides responsive management over a variety of storage technologies, allowing utilities to maximize their investment. Benefits include:

Cost-Effectively Managing the Grid – The ability to adaptively capture and dispatch stored energy allows utilities to relieve pressure or flatten demand, deferring expensive transmission and distribution (T&D) expansion. The dynamic dispatch of energy can also be used to cost-effectively deliver ancillary services including system regulation, energy balancing, spinning and operating reserves.

Increasing the Value of Renewable Generation Sources – Distributed storage control, synchronized with real-time wind or solar energy production, increases the predictability, availability and optimum value of renewable energy sources. GridPoint software controls grid storage technologies to efficiently firm renewable energy production, capture power production and cost-effectively provide regulation services to support T&D stability.

Improving T&D System Reliability – Aggregated control of energy storage resources increases the alignment between demand and power production, reducing peak load without reducing services. Storing lower-priced energy, typically captured overnight, for discharge during peak periods increases grid reliability and reduces the need to purchase expensive electricity from the spot market. Localized dispatch can levelize demand on specific areas of the grid without impacting consumers.

Enhancing T&D Efficiency – With GridPoint’s grid storage software in place, utilities are able to orchestrate the dispatch of less expensive, often cleaner energy stored in devices situated close to population centers. During peak periods, this reduces transmission congestion, T&D losses and energy costs. In response to peak periods or service disruptions, energy stored below specific neighborhood transformers can be discharged. In many cases, consumers may never know about or be impacted by a system outage.