An Introduction to the Smart Grid

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the so-called “Smart Grid”. The Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has allocated billions of dollars of funding for projects that demonstrate Smart Grid technologies.

Wissam Balshe, Sales Application Engineer for Cummins Power Generation, has crafted a white paper read it here discussing Smart Grid technologies, and why it makes business sense to utilize the in today’s economy.

In American alone, power outages account for $150 billion in losses each year. It is estimated that $1.5 trillion will be spent on infrastructure to meet growing business demand.

Balshe discusses provides a thorough definition of Smart Grid technologies and concepts, including:

• Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) systems
• Distribution Management Systems
• Visualizing Energy Resources Dynamically on Earth (VERDE)
• Energy storage
• Superconductive power cables

He also discusses the opportunities and challenges facing these technologies, and how regulatory mechanisms affect these opportunities.

Balshe is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He has worked as an uninterruptable power supply system engineer as well as an aerosol technology application engineer.

Peak Performance In Australia

Cummins Power Generation has set the benchmark for the construction of low-emission diesel-fired power stations in Australia. The latest example is a 26 MW peaking plant at Kurri Kurri in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, which matches two other power stations built by Cummins — at Lonsdale in Adelaide and Angaston in South Australia’s Barossa Valley — for ultra low emissions.

The three power stations are owned by Infratil Energy Australia, which works through national grid system operator NEMMCO. The plant uses selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to deliver near–zero emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a smog-causing pollutant and greenhouse gas. As a result, the stations have achieved NOx emissions reduction of more than 90%.

The SCR technology is used to treat the exhaust gases of the big 60-litre, V16 QSK60 diesel engines that power the generator sets. The process starts with the supply of urea which combines with air at the point of injection in the exhaust stream. This works with catalysts to convert NOx into nitrogen and water vapour — two harmless and natural components of the air we breathe.

The unmanned peaking power plant utilizes 16 Cummins QSK60 generators — each capable of providing 1.62 MW of power. The peaking plant is always “live”, meaning it is permanently connected to the grid. Infratil remotely starts and stops the plant as required. All 16 generator sets start up, synchronise and within two minutes are generating 26 MW. The plant is connected to the national electricity grid and operates only when market demand or pricing is very high.

But meeting the EPA’s stringent emission requirements was not the biggest test for Cummins at Kurri Kurri. The team had to deal with a raft of other challenges during the development process. The plant is built on a “greenfield“ site, necessitating a cultural heritage assessment to evaluate the impact on flora and fauna, as well as extensive landscaping.

The generator sets operate at 415V, and can ramp up to 33 kV via 16 transformers. They are housed in acoustic buildings to limit noise pollution, limiting noise level to only 65 dBA at the boundary fence.

The power station is being maintained by Cummins under a five-year contract, and the customer is pleased with the results. “This is a high efficiency power station with very low environmental impact,” says Tony Bergmeier, operations manager for Infratil Energy Australia.