dso-microgrid animation 10152014

What Is a DSO?

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The growing use of Distributed

Energy Resources is dramatically

disrupting the traditional utility

business model.


To maintain reliable system

operations, utilities need to revamp

their operational procedures and

tools.


And to remain financially viable,

utilities must offer new services to

consumers and bulk power system

operators.


Distribution utilities need to become

Distribution System Operators —

ISOs for distribution.


ISO Operations

ISOs and RTOs manage the interface between independent power producers and the wholesale market.


DSO Operations

The DSO will act as an interface between prosumers and other market participants and the ISO.


DSO/ISO Interactions

The DSO makes aggregated DR and DER capabilities available to the ISO at the pricing node level.


Distributed Assets

The DSO controls the individual DR/DER assets that comprise the aggregate.


DSOs Do What ISOs Can’t

The DSO schedules and dispatches assets with consideration for their effects on the distribution grid — including voltage impacts and phase balancing.


Facilitating Retail Transactions

And DSOs facilitate retail markets, including transactions among consumers and prosumers.


Different DSO Models


DSOs can provide a roadmap to a

sustainable distribution utility

business model for the 21st Century.

How Microgrids Affect Your Business


Some large customers — such as

colleges and hospitals — are building

microgrids to meet much of their

own power needs.


These customers have critical power

needs that must remain on at all

times, even when isolated from the

utility.


Many utilities continue to wonder

what microgrids are, how they work,

and how they will impact business.


A Variety of Power Sources

In addition to the utility, microgrids are connected to a variety of other power sources, such as natural gas turbines, diesel generators, solar generation, wind turbines, and even power storage.


Prioritized Loads

Within the microgrid, different types of load are categorized by their priority level:

• Critical loads such as life, safety, and security equipment or data center systems.

• Non-critical loads such as HVAC systems, conference rooms, lighting, general employee spaces, or tenants.


Case Study: New OATI South Campus

OATI is building our new South Campus on a zero net-energy basis, featuring next-generation microgrid technologies.


Sized to Supply Critical Loads

Non-utility power has been sized to completely supply the maximum necessary load for OATI’s critical NERC CIP-compliant data centers on the most energy-intensive day of the year.


Enterprise Power Bus

All power sources at the South Campus will be connected to an enterprise power bus to supply the facility’s critical and non-critical loads.


Selling Excess Energy

When the non-utility power sources are generating more power than required to meet the load, the excess can be sold back to the utility.


Shed Non-Critical Load When Necessary

When utility power is lost, the microgrid can automatically shed non-critical loads and keep critical loads running. Non-critical loads can then be restored, depending on available generation.


Combined Cooling, Heat, and Power

The South Campus will utilize Combined Cooling, Heat, and Power (CCHP) technology to channel excess heat from the natural gas turbines to cool the data center equipment as well as heat the office space during the winter.


OATI Microgrid Controller

A unique, OATI-designed microgrid SmartController will intelligently manage power generation and loads to maximize the available power and ensure critical loads are prioritized over non-critical.


Creating microgrids with their

largest customers has the potential

to provide utilities with significant

benefits.


Microgrids can also be a resource to

help utilities improve system-wide

resiliency

and reliability in extreme conditions.

dso-microgrid animation 10152014

Documents

dso operations

distribution utilities

dso schedules

distribution grid

iso operations isos

different dso models

distributed assets

reliable system operations