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Utilities continually face system losses from reactive load, or “VAR”, created by large customer load devices such as washing machines, air conditioning units, etc. To address these losses, utilities are implementing methods to regulate and reduce the amount of VAR on their systems through “Volt/VAR control” -- an all-encompassing term for many different approaches to regulating voltage and VAR on distribution feeders. By optimizing voltage and VAR control through voltage reduction, power factor optimization and conservation voltage reduction, great efficiencies can be realized on the distribution system.
Xcel Energy is very familiar with the typical Volt/VAR control approaches, but has been searching for ways to improve system performance and reliability. In addition to gains on distribution power factors, Xcel desires the ability to dispatch the line capacitors for transmission VAR support. Another interest is to evaluate the energy savings through conservation voltage reduction. As a result, Xcel Energy and CURRENT Group have teamed up to deploy a two-way centralized Volt/VAR control solution in Boulder as part of the SmartGridCity project. This presentation will discuss two-way centralized Volt/VAR control, as implemented in Boulder, and how it allows Xcel Energy to optimally regulate VARs while maintaining voltages.
Who Should Attend - Utility distribution directors, planners, engineers and technicians
- Utility reliability directors and engineers
- Utility personnel charged with technology innovations and smart grid implementations
- Suppliers in the electrical distribution industry
- Budget managers of utilities
- Manufacturing technicians and engineers
- Power systems operators
- Consultants and researchers in renewable energy
- Public utility regulators
- Information technology and communication professionals
Learning Outcomes Attendees of this web conference will be able to:
- Describe the Smart Grid value chain
- Identify solutions to minimize technical losses and reduce overall load without requiring a change in customer behavior
- List the traditional approaches to VAR
- Analyze what problems those approaches create
- Recognize the benefits of two way centralized control
- Discuss the solution deployed at Xcel
- Define the key benefits for utilities that implement Volt/VAR control
Requirements for Successful Completion of Program Participants must be logged in to the web conference for its entirety to receive continuing education credit. Instructional Methods Web based PowerPoint presentation and on-line interactive question/answer session. Continuing Education Credits: EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer up to 0.1 CEUs for this program.
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