CURRENT Group will deliver its Distribution System Optimization products and services to NorthWestern Energy to reduce technical losses, optimize feeder voltage profiles and reduce system load through advanced voltage optimization automation.
NorthWestern’s project will roll out later this year as part of the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project. CURRENT will be providing its intelligent grid sensors and its OpenGrid software platform that features Volt/VAR Control and Dynamic Voltage Optimization using Dynamic Measurement and Verification through a real-time power flow and grid state estimation engine, and will also be providing project implementation, software installation and configuration along with certain systems integration and development services.
“There has been significant focus on both transmission and ‘smart meters’ over the last 24 months. Both are clearly part of the evolution toward an efficient, reliable, clean electricity sector. Research is showing that multiple billions of dollars of benefits are available today from investment in technology between the sub-station and the meter. NorthWestern Energy and the Pacific Northwest Demonstration Project are great testing beds to prove out this value that can be realized quickly, affordably and in a measurably verifiable way,” said Tom Casey, CEO of CURRENT.
NorthWestern Energy is participating in the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project designed to expand upon existing electric infrastructure and test new smart grid technology with up to 60,000 customers in five states.
