On Nov. 24, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the $178 million Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project was one of 16 regional smart grid demonstration awards to be funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

AREVA T&D’s Network Management Systems unit in Redmond, Washington, is a technology and vendor partner on the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project team being managed by Battelle. The purpose is to expand on existing infrastructure and test new smart grid technology with up to 60,000 customers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Using Smart Grid technologies, the study will test new combinations of devices, software and advanced analytical tools that enhance the power grid’s reliability and performance.

Specifically, AREVA T&D will supply its Smart Grid technology through its e-terraplatform and e-terramarket products to manage renewable energy assets (bulk and distributed energy resources) in real-time and to create real-time dynamic pricing for utility participants.

Additionally, AREVA T&D is working with multiple utilities and regional transmission organizations that received U.S. Department of Energy funding from Smart Grid Investment Grants in October as part of the ARRA, Real-Time Situation Awareness, Online Stability Solutions (based on Phasor Measurement Units) and Integrated Distribution Management Systems.

AREVA T&D’s Smart Grid solutions are focused on enhancing grid reliability and network stability to prevent blackouts, enabling large scale renewable and distributed energy resources, reducing environmental impact by increasing energy efficiency, enabling utilities to operate their assets closer to the limit, reducing equipment losses and optimizing generation and demand response portfolios.