The overarching objective of this programme of research is to facilitate the integration of smarter network management and monitoring devices in a way that doesn't compromise security at best value.
IntelliGrid Coordination, Analysis and Technology Transfer EPRI Project PS161A:
Smart Grid Standards and Communication Technology Tracking and Analysis:
Track industry and government activities relating to smart grid interoperability and communications standards, and provide an analysis of how these activities could impact utilities and how they can best prepare;
Track communications technology advances and their impact on utility applications; and
Contribute EPRI R&D results to relevant industry and government efforts, such as the NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), Open SG, and standards development activities.
Realized Impact and Benefits from Smart Deployments
To work closely with utilities that have deployed smart grid technologies or applications and capture the actual costs and realized impacts and benefits of the deployment.
Utility Enterprise Architecture
To capture best practices from utilities that have been successful with EA (Enterprise Architecture) and apply that learning to utilities that are just getting started to accelerate the adoption and benefits of EA.
Information and Communication Technology for Smart Transmission Systems EPRI Project PS161B:
Common Information Model (CIM) for Transmission - Development and Implementation
Develop requirements and explore solutions for integrating data and applications that are key to effective operation of future transmission systems
Synchrophasor Communication Infrastructure and Data Management
Monitor and assess the adequacy of current communications infrastructure
To investigate data management issues that may arise
Integration of Internal and External Data Sources to Support Transmission Operations, Planning and Maintenance
Identify benefits and costs of implementing each use case investigated, including any effort to restructure the data to accommodate the geospatial information linkages
Specific deliverables for the whole ICT programme include:
- Newsletters that track and provide analysis on the most significant developments in interoperability and communications
standards;
- Information on the actual costs and realized impacts of advanced metering deployments;
- Industry best practices in Enterprise Architecture;
- Development and harmonization of the Common Information Model as well as educational material and implementation strategies
of the key smart grid standards;
- Applications based on the CIM such as the Network Model Manager, Field Force Data Visualization, and Standards-Based Data
Integration;
- Development of an overall plan to create an open and interoperable AMI system; and
- Development of tools to help members improve the quality of Geospatial Information System (GIS) data.
The outcomes from both projects are shared during the annual EPRI Dissemination Event and by National Grid through the ENA
website.