Many federal agencies originally installed an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to measure and monitor energy use simply to comply with congressional mandates. In those cases, agencies used the metering system to help identify energy savings opportunities and track performance of the implemented energy conservation measures. Some users have learned that AMI can do much more to help achieve their overall energy goals. Leaders in industries like petrochemical (oil & gas) and semiconductors discovered long ago that AMI can be leveraged to achieve a ‘triple bottom line,’ which comprises energy efficiency; optimization of energy assets, including renewable energy assets; and increased energy security.
AMI integrates sophisticated meters that measure all utilities with intelligent, two-way communications, energy data management software, and a secure network. To appreciate the benefit of harnessing smart meters into a global, interactive communications network, take a look at the global AMI network installed by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). In near real time, AMI systems link Navy and Marine Corps bases and facilities worldwide, giving visibility into a large percent of the organization’s energy consumption. With an annual utility bill of about $1 billion and requirements to cut energy consumption by three percent per year across the department, the Navy stands to realize significant improvements in monitoring and managing its energy usage.
Bottom Line #1: Energy Efficiency
The data collected by AMI provides NAVFAC with the tools to achieve the first bottom line: energy efficiency. AMI effectively monitors and manages consumption of all utilities: water, air, gas, electricity and steam (WAGES). This calculates the gross BTU per square foot, which allows engineers to precisely research and recommend the highest return for energy savings projects. The information helps agencies like the Navy identify areas in which to improve efficiencies and accurately allocate the cost of energy usage.
Energy consumption granularity serves as fuel for net zero planning, which seeks to produce as much energy onsite as a facility uses, ideally from green sources. The first priority for net zero planning is to find the ‘negawatts,’ or energy that can be saved through efficiency and demand response tactics. AMI helps pinpoint potential negawatt areas such as machinery left running but not in use, or loads that use energy in an unoccupied building in the middle of the night. Negawatts can account for as much as 10 percent to 30 percent of total energy use.
Bottom Line #2: Optimizing Energy Assets
After determining all possible energy savings opportunities, the next step toward achieving net zero is to apply the most cost-efficient green generation possible – an element of the second bottom line: optimizing energy assets. AMI can help determine the most efficient generation sources by verifying a renewable energy generator’s real efficiencies versus its stated efficiencies. Reasons for the discrepancies between the two values can vary widely. One example is a photovoltaic (PV) panel applied or installed incorrectly or placed in a shaded area, resulting in less-than-optimal performance. In another example, a malfunctioning panel in a string of PV panels can disrupt the entire system if not properly metered and maintained. Levels of generation and efficiency vary by manufacturer, but AMI helps ensure that the renewable generation source can fulfill the potential represented by the manufacturer’s specifications.
In addition, today’s AMI can help agencies optimize their energy assets using criteria like changes in weather as well as occupancy and space utilization. Consider troop deployment: The constant flux in demand driven by troops’ deployment and return often renders compiled energy data irrelevant and dated, and in turn does not accurately reflect current needs. Critical loads change day to day, so the instantaneous data available from AMI serves as a vehicle for increasing system stability.
Once energy loads are known, AMI users possess the knowledge to confidently shed the necessary loads. Loads are typically shed in blocks, but this approach can risk over-shedding and disabling critical power loads unnecessarily. A mistake like this at an air base could disrupt all flight line operations.
Bottom Line #3: Energy Security
Rounding out the triple bottom line of AMI is energy security. An AMI provides understanding of the sources and uses of power in a system. Under today’s grid protocols, utility generation shuts down during times of power outages. Advocates argue that this is precisely when on-site generation sources, like those in a microgrid, could offer the greatest value to both generation owners and society. A microgrid is an integrated energy system consisting of distributed energy resources and multiple electrical loads operating as a single, autonomous grid either in parallel to or “islanded” from the existing utility power grid. ‘Islanding’ involves separation or isolation from a utility’s distributed system during brownouts or blackouts, acts of terrorism, or extreme weather conditions, thereby improving energy security. Such sources can provide power services when the larger grid system has failed consumers and owners of distributed energy generation systems.
Speed is the key to reliability, and reliability is integral to energy security. Reliable systems with loads metered in real time can react instantaneously to changes in loads and in generation. In addition, increased reaction speed reduces the amount of energy storage needed.
Alternatively, if a system has a static load shed algorithm, an event as simple as a loss of sunlight could trip a trigger that takes a diesel generator offline, sends the system into overload, and ultimately disables an entire system. High speed controls coupled with the right studies, like a transient stability load flow, will minimize or negate the chance that the event will trip the generation assets due to overload. This results in improved system reliability and increases the energy security bottom line.
Energy is a fundamental asset to federal agencies in advancing their core mission. No agency can operate without it. By helping agencies improve energy efficiency, optimize their energy resources and increase energy security, AMI ensures operational resiliency and mission effectiveness.
About the Author
Philip leads Schneider Electric’s U.S. activity to organize microgrid projects and solutions both internally and externally with partner companies. Since 1998, Philip has led Schneider Electric teams retrofitting entire microgrids or any part of their enabling technology. Enabling technology includes distributed generation, power equipment, engineering services, metering, software and power controls.
From 2009 to 2011, Philip created and directed Schneider Electric’s Federal Energy Solutions Business. The Energy Solutions Federal team developed hundreds of advanced metering infrastructure and other energy projects worldwide. Two of the projects were Schneider Electric’s first federal Energy Savings Performance Contracts. They are still recognized as among the fastest moving projects in DOE program history.
One of the two was a net zero project that combined 3 MWs of self-funding solar PV inside of an ESPC at 3 USCG bases in Puerto Rico. The self-funding project combined 28 percent savings plus 35 percent renewable energy to reach 63 percent of net zero.
Previously Philip held leadership positions Power Management and Control, as well as Square D Power Services, residing in Nashville, Atlanta and Dallas.
