by Shane Henson — February 27, 2013—San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) recently announced that it is installing several smart grid technologies on the electric grid in the San Diego region that are creating a more resilient and responsive energy network for local residents. The technologies are an integral part of SDG&E’s overall smart grid deployment effort, which is said to be one of the most ambitious in the nation and consists of more than 60 separate initiatives for the benefit of the region.
According to the company, which provides energy service to 3.4 million people over 4,100 square miles, these smart grid technologies include wireless sensors that automatically detect outages and other problems on the electric grid, and devices that smoothly integrate environmentally beneficial renewable energy. With the installation of these technologies, SDG&E says it is creating a more automated electric grid that promotes greater awareness of system conditions and can quickly respond to changes and events. In many cases, this grid will even be able to use this information to “heal” itself remotely or sense problems before they occur.
In addition to enhancing reliability and reducing outage times through these wireless sensors, the automation of the electric grid will also provide numerous environmental benefits by efficiently integrating clean renewable energy onto the system, adds SDG&E. These new cleaner forms of renewable energy—wind and solar—pose some challenges to utilities because they are intermittent by nature. If a cloud moves in front of the sun or the wind stops blowing, the power output of these sources can become unavailable suddenly and indefinitely. The smart grid is designed to counter the highly intermittent nature of renewable energy sources through new technology that senses and accounts for any variability in near real time, the company explains.
For example, SDG&E is deploying a new voltage stabilizer called a “dynamic VAr device” on a circuit with a large solar array that is already causing voltage fluctuations on the grid. The new device will level out the voltage drops caused by the fluctuating solar generation, thus preventing potential power quality problems. SDG&E also installed five batteries in 2012—three small units in the community and two large units at SDG&E substations—designed to provide power and support the grid when the output from renewable sources fluctuates or becomes temporarily unavailable.
SDG&E also has embarked on a condition-based maintenance program that can extend the life of valuable infrastructure by remotely “sensing” potential problems and alerting utility crews when maintenance is needed, says the company.
