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Matt Chester
Matt Chester
Energy Central Team

Here’s Looking at You, Grid: Monthly Digest of Insights Shared by Your Peers in the Energy Central Grid Network – May 6, 2022

The grid is often called the largest and most complex machine that engineers have ever created, and that was before the advent of smart grid technology, modernized solutions, and more taking place across T&D infrastructure all the time today. Keeping up with the developments on grid technology, associated grid markets, and appropriate regulations and policies can be a full-time job, but with the aid of the Grid Network on Energy Central (composed of the Grid Professionals Group and the Transmission Professionals Group) you can be privy to the best shortcut to stay up to date on the news, musings, and debates shaping the grid today.

 

Forgetting what you think you know about power plant controllers

Becky Wheeler

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/o/pxise-energy-solutions/forget-what-you-think-you-know-about-power-plant-controllers

The grid modernization process is proceeding at a quicker speed than ever before, and one of the key areas of focus in that respect comes via the new technology or even just the upgraded technology technologies. Take, for example, the capabilities of AI-powered power plant controllers, or PPCs. To get up to speed on what is possible when these opportunities are harnessed, be sure to check out this article from Becky Wheeler of PXiSE.

 

What is a Microgrid Load Controller, and What Can It Do for Your Business?

Kristin Hogan

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/what-microgrid-load-controller-and-what-can-it-do-your-business

Speaking of modern technology enabling the grid advancements of tomorrow, microgrids are one of the hottest topics in the world of grid professionals, but a lot of work is required to take them from great in theory to great in practice. One of those necessary technologies is a microgrid load controller, as explained by Kristin Hogan in this article.

 

Is SARFI the next big thing in regulation?

Doug Houseman

Link to the original article: https://energycentral.com/c/gr/sarfi-next-big-thing-regulation

Another area to keep an eye on as the grid modernization presses on is the regulatory landscape. Everything from local to state to federal jurisdictions are all weighing in and there’s no shortage of debates and new frameworks. No doubt, one of the best people out there to keep tabs on what that means is Doug Houseman, so we’re always keen to highlight his posts when he shares them with the Energy Central community—check this one out.

 

VPPs Help Utilities Meet Peak Demand and Carbon Reduction Targets Cost Effectively

Peter Asmus

Link to the original article: https://energycentral.com/c/gr/vpps-help-utilities-meet-peak-demand-and-carbon-reduction-targets-cost

  Last, but certainly not least, comes this great article on virtual power plants from Peter Asmus of Autogrid. In it, Asmus outlines the arguments for why VPPs are going to be such a valuable tool as utilities seek to navigate they’re myriad of goals from decarbonization to meet ever-growing demand to offering customers some unique prosumer-like opportunities. Check out this write up and stay tuned for more to come on this topic from Peter.

 

This wraps up another edition of ‘Here’s Looking at You, Grid.’ Check back in this spot in four weeks to see what submissions have captured the attention of our community. And if you think there are stories I’m missing—let me know in the comments, or better yet submit an article on those stories so it can be included in the next issue. Make sure you don’t miss out on these shared insights in the future.

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