The goal of the Distributed Resource Energy Analysis and Management System (DREAMS) Development for Real-time Grid Operations project is to support development of the next generation energy infrastructure and EMS environment with the ability to account for behind-the-meter distributed generation in an aggregated fashion reducing site-specific forecasting by 2 orders of magnitude and be able to factor in 15-min short-term probabilistic weather information into EMS algorithms to inform operational decisions (e.g. unit commitment, load forecasting, reserve monitoring and ramp alerts).
The purpose is to provide utility operators with more timely information and seamless EMS capability to “see” and “get a heads up” to manage change impacts arising from high penetrations of renewable resources from transmission down to distribution levels, specifically distributed Photovoltaic (PV) located on the customer side where utilities have limited visibility and controls. It is anticipated that as this effort progresses, the project will provide the following impacts:
- Lessons learned and experience gained in integrating one of the first short-term wind and solar forecasting and ramp event datasets into utility EMS environments
- Efforts leverage 2 major EMS providers to develop and demonstrate robust EMS platforms and renewable integration solutions applicable to a broad base of utility users
- Enable new operational tools for Utility Operators to see and manage behind the meter generation and develop better awareness in the use of real-time wind and solar forecasting tools
- Provide guidance on VER/DER data management needs for real-time control and operations
- Enable interaction across a broad base of industries and technology providers that normally would not engage
- Broad base of utility expertise providing insight and input to ensure replicable capabilities and robust development of operational awareness tools
- Advance state of the art in the area of EMS tools to integrate DG information and forecasting data.
- Direct access through vendors to dissemination and commercialization conduits into national and international market space
- Pilot activities represent innovation in transformational technologies that will shape future grid intelligence and provide guidance on standardization of data formats/protocol, network security and communication of data across multiple platforms