Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com
Georgia utility Southern Company is partnering with Georgia Tech and Smart Wires to roll out a project supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE) aimed at improving Georgia's electric grid.
The program, which will start in 2025, will bring advanced power flow control (APFC) and dynamic linear ratio (DLR) technology to the grid, making it easier to integrate renewable energy and meet new demand quickly.
Georgia Tech's Center for Distributed Energy is leading the project. The DOE selected it in November 2021 as one of four grid development technology (GET) funding projects. GET is designed to improve grid reliability, expand existing infrastructure, and accelerate the integration of renewable energy.
The project will use Smart Wires' APFC, called SmartValve, alongside its DLR software, known as SUMO. Together, they will develop control algorithms to improve grid utilization and help these solutions work better in parallel.
Tim Lieuwen, interim vice president for research at Georgia Tech, called the project “an important step toward the efficient and reliable integration of clean energy sources.” He highlighted the potential of the partnership to explore new ways of managing the grid in Georgia by combining the expertise of APFC and DLR.
This will be the first major deployment involving both APFC and DLR, and the project will explore how they work together to improve efficiency. Basically, SUMO monitors real-time weather conditions to see where power lines have extra capacity, while SmartValve can redirect power to those lines to use that extra space. On the other hand, if it's a hot day and the lines are straining, the SmartValve can move power to circuits with more room, reducing the risk of problems and keeping operations running smoothly.
In addition, SmartValves are portable and can be installed in as little as a week. That means they can be moved to meet the changing needs of the system, without long shutdowns.
The project covers a one-year operational period to provide Southern Company with useful information that can help other utilities find similar solutions and expand the use of grid improvement technology across the US.
Read more: A 350-mile transmission line in Nevada has now been approved
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. To find a reliable, trustworthy solar installer near you who offers competitive prices, check EnergySagea free service that makes it easy for you to travel in the sun. They have thousands of pre-tested solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Also, it's free to use and you won't get any auction calls until you choose an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to impartial Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. -reliable reliable link*
FTC: We use auto affiliate links to earn income. More.