What are Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)?
A Distributed Energy Resource (DER) encompasses any asset, located either behind or in front of the meter, that can be identified as a load, generating station, or energy storage device and can communicate with the DERMS backend.
- Data-Sharing DERs: These assets primarily share data with the DERMS, such as:
- Controllable DERs: These assets not only share data but also respond to control signals from the DERMS. They possess inbuilt or external communication and control modules that enable them to adjust their operation based on DERMS dispatch commands.
Communication and Control Modes:
- Direct Communication: DERMS can directly send control signals to the DER.
- Indirect Communication: Control signals can be routed through partner clouds, such as those used by:
- Most partner systems adhere to standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for seamless integration, facilitating both data acquisition and control.
- Generators: Diesel generators and other generators that produce alternative energy sources are considered DERs.
- Smart Energy Meters: These devices provide valuable data about aggregated loads behind the meter. Data from smart meters can be accessed through:
- Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS)
- Home Energy Systems (HES)
- Dedicated sub-meters or check meters are installed behind the utility meter (for independent data sources).
How does a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) augment EV Charge Station Load Management?
EV charging platforms have several key application layers:
- EV User Management
- Charging Session Management
- EV Charge Station Management
- EVSE Management
- Transactional Management - Billing and Settlement
- Partner Management - CPOs, eMSPs, and Roaming
- Energy Management and Renewable Integration - Optimizer
OCPP-based EV charger management systems enable layered interfaces through APIs for EV Station management, facilitating interactions between CPOs, eMSPs, and Roaming partners. This enables crucial interfaces for Utility/DSO/Energy Management Platforms like DERMS, SCADA, and BMS for effective energy and load management.
Utility-enabled DSOs can leverage these interfaces to access the energy demand of CPOs/eMSPs for charge stations. This data, combined with demand forecasts and the availability of other energy sources (renewable, storage, and non-renewable), empowers informed decision-making.
DERMS gains access to EV Charging Platforms via APIs, acquiring real-time meter, charger, and session data for critical functions like demand forecasting, load management, and renewable integration.
EV charging stations can be directly onboarded as service points for DERMS integration. In this scenario, the EVSE itself becomes a DER under the service point managed by DERMS. DERMS acquires meter data from the service point and EVSE data through CMS message bus subscriptions to relevant topics.
This scenario empowers DERMS to forecast, analyze, and predict the demand requirements at the EV Charge Station. Based on these forecasts, DERMS can create Demand Response (DR) events and dispatch signals directly to the EVSE units, considering their capacity and demand. The CMS then moderates the EV charge sessions based on these DR events and user transaction preferences, adhering to defined business logic.
DERMS acquires charge session bookings and time-series data from the CMS/EVSE units for real-time management and optimization.
When a dedicated DERMS is deployed for a specific commercial building or a fleet charging station, the operational model typically follows a "behind-the-meter" solution.
Conversely, when the DERMS augments energy management for multiple charging stations, it operates as a "front-of-the-meter" solution, encompassing a Distribution line, Distribution Transformer, Feeder, or substation, depending on the DSO or utility's engagement with the DERMS platform.
Now, considering scenarios where an EV charging station utilizes an alternative energy source like Solar or Solar + Storage:
- Solar or Solar + Storage systems are onboarded as DER assets, associated with the service point.
- DERMS provides real-time forecasts and the State of Charge (SOC) of storage assets. This enables the charge station to optimize the utilization of renewable energy and storage during periods of high Time-Of-Use (TOU) rates and peak demand, minimizing the need for curtailing or reducing charger capacity.
- DERMS generates day-ahead and real-time forecasts for Demand Response and optimizes the charging cycles of storage systems based on demand and the defined Time-Of-Day (TOD) configurations within the service point.
- The CMS leverages this DERMS-provided TOD and energy mix data to calculate and display CO2 savings for improved dashboard and reporting capabilities.
Key value streams and energy augmentation enabled by the DERMS layer for CMS and DSOs/Utilities include:
- Demand Forecasting: Day-ahead, Day, and real-time forecasts at 5/10/15-minute intervals.
- Renewable Generation Forecasting: Day-ahead, Day, and real-time forecasts at 5/10/15-minute intervals.
- SOC of Storages: Real-time updates at 5/10/15-minute intervals, along with charging and discharging cycle information.
- Demand Response: Strategies for situations where solar or storage is unavailable.
- Renewable Energy Utilization: Maximizing the use of renewable energy during periods of solar availability.
- Storage Co-optimization: Optimizing storage usage for demand management during peak and non-peak hours.
- Energy Savings: Quantifying energy saved through DR/Renewable energy/Storage co-optimization.
- Baseline and Real-time Status: Tracking the status of all dispatches related to DR/Renewable energy/Storage co-optimization.
- Energy Mix, Resource Utilization, and Revenue Maximization: Analyzing and optimizing these key factors.
- Manual and Automated Control: Providing options for manual and automated DR/Renewable energy/Storage co-optimization for operator convenience.
Driving the next wave of energy innovation with DERMS ??
Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) are at the forefront of intelligent energy management, enabling flexibility and dynamic dispatch through advanced technology integration.
Key advancements include:
- Technology Agnostic Integration: DERMS acts as an intelligent energy platform, seamlessly adopting and adapting to diverse technologies and protocols, both proprietary and open-source, through adaptive connectors and robust data ingestion pipelines.
- Standardization and Security: Ensuring open and secure communication through adherence to industry standards, with comprehensive safety and security measures at every stage of processing, integration, aggregation, and data exchange.
- Scalable and Distributed Architecture: Designed to meet the demands of a decentralized energy landscape, enabling seamless expansion and adaptation.
- Advanced Analytics with AI/ML: Leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence for dynamic tariffs, accurate forecasting, resource co-optimization, predictive management, and dynamic dispatch.
- IoT and Smart Asset Transformation: Integrating and converting IoT devices and smart assets into intelligent Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), encompassing loads, generation, storage, and voice-activated applications.
- Transparent User Interfaces: Providing real-time insights and data transparency through mobile and web applications, catering to business, technical, operational, DSO, service provider, compliance, and consumer needs.
- Comprehensive Cross-Platform Communication: Establishing seamless communication and control with a wide range of DERs, including smart meters, smart plugs, smart appliances, SCADA/BMS systems, EVSE, and more.
- Extensive Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitating collaboration and engagement across the entire energy value chain, from utilities and operators to consumers and regulators.
DERMS is not just a technology; it’s a catalyst for a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient energy ecosystem.
Delving into the intricate layers of Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), we witness remarkable scalability – from MEGA to NANO, impacting every service point. DERMS tackles complex energy challenges at its core, delivering immense value across the entire energy value chain.
How does it achieve this?
For utilities, a robust DERMS platform offers:
- Granular Control: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) ensures secure and efficient operations.
- Optimized Power Management: Ensuring stability and reliability.
- Enhanced Power Quality: Minimizing disruptions and maintaining consistent supply.
- Dynamic Grid Flexibility: Adapting to fluctuating demands and generation.
- Comprehensive Grid, Demand, and Generation Overviews: Providing real-time situational awareness.
- Resource Availability Insights: Including storage, EVs, and other DERs.
- Advanced Forecasting: Real-time and dynamic predictions for demand, generation, and resource availability.
- Strategic Demand Management: Leveraging Demand Response (DR), load balancing, and storage co-optimization.
- Seamless Renewable Energy Integration: Maximizing utilization and promoting sustainability.
- Resilience through VPPs and Microgrids: Enabling islanding capabilities for enhanced reliability.
- Improved Distribution System Effectiveness: Enhancing efficiency and reducing losses.
- Optimized Resource Utilization and Planning: Streamlining CAPEX and operational expenditures.
- Facilitating Energy Trading: Enabling dynamic pricing and P2P transactions.
- Supporting Diverse Energy Mixes: Promoting green energy and reducing carbon footprints.
- Dynamic Tariffs and Price Sensitivity: Aligning costs with real-time conditions.
- Blockchain and DLT Interfaces: Enhancing transparency and security.
Use Cases Across the Spectrum:
- EV Charging Stations: Intelligent load management, renewable integration, and dynamic tariffs.
- IPP/CAPEX Power Plants: Optimized operations through advanced forecasting and energy trading.
- Residential: Enabling smart homes, solar and storage co-optimization, and consumer participation in grid services.
- Commercial & Industrial: Behind-the-meter flexibility, renewable integration, and P2P trading.
DERMS scales its capabilities from the bottom up and top down, adapting to the grid flow from state/city/circle/substation down to the feeder, distribution transformer (DT), line, and finally, the consumer service point. This hierarchical augmentation delivers flexibility and efficiency at every level.