Is it possible that there really IS such a thing as a Smart Grid? This article from Greentech Media describes a DOE demonstration project that employs a technology called transactive control to integrate various resources (demand and supply-side) to ensure reliable, cost-effective power delivery. Transactive control is described in the article in the following way:
One signal goes out to the utilities and then another feedback signal is sent back to the balancing authority in real time. The technology is meant to track the flow of power so that grid operators can determine the cost of the power delivered to any single point. “At the practical level, we work at the point between the transmission and distribution,” said Melton.
In this example, the Bonneville Power Administration hopes to use distributed resources to help balance intermittent resources like wind power. Really, there are at least two innovations occurring:
- Proving the feasibility of the two-way communication system: transactive control.
- The project draws on various sectors to deliver the resources, including residential services(control of hot water heaters) — the incentives for action are broad and truly distributed..
there are about 50 other reliability or efficiency experiments, including electric vehicles, conservation voltage reduction, upgraded outage managements systems and other distribution automation projects.
Bottom line for businesses: There is nothing actionable about this program yet, but it does signal that there may be nearer-term opportunities to participate in and receive meaningful incentives for demand management, load control and other demand and efficiency investments.