July 09, 2015
Prize Supports Microgrid Planning And Development Across The State Of New York
McLean, VA — Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH), Siemens and Power Analytics will study the technical and economic feasibility of installing community microgrids in 16 cities across New York. These communities were each awarded $100,000 in initial microgrid funding through New York State’s NY Prize competition in order to evaluate how microgrids—local energy networks that are able to separate from the larger electrical grid—can expand customer choice, ensure power reliability, improve resiliency and preserve the environment.
Sponsored by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NY Prize supports Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative to build a cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable energy system for New York.
The three companies worked with the following communities to secure the grants: Carthage, Chateaugay, Clarkstown, Cortlandt, Elmira, Florida, Kingston, Liberty, Mamaroneck, Monticello, Moreau, Mt. Kisco, New Rochelle, Sherburne, Somers and Watervliet. While these communities are diverse with respect to geography and size, they all have suffered from grid reliability issues. Further, their leaders understand the importance of ensuring reliable electricity is available to their communities and are actively seeking solutions to this problem.
“The state of New York is at the cutting edge of the future of electric distribution,” said Gary Rahl, Booz Allen Executive Vice President. “We are excited to partner with Power Analytics and Siemens, and the communities and utilities in New York, to deliver a secure and distributed energy future. Learning here will help advance the vision and feasibility of utility system transformation that the Governor’s REV embodies, and that so many other markets around the country, and the world, are watching.”
As the project lead, Booz Allen will coordinate with community stakeholders and utility representatives to complete 16 microgrid feasibility studies for the NY Prize Phase I initiative. The studies will include technical assessments of energy generation assets, power flows, costs, benefits and required infrastructure. All studies are expected to be complete by Q1 2016.
Power Analytics will bring their technology, the only real-time patented microgrid solution in the industry, to the studies. For 25 years this technology has built, managed and optimized some of the largest microgrid projects in the world. Their latest innovations include two-way data transfer between grid elements, and advanced financial settlements for energy use.
“We are very pleased to bring our EnergyNet product, with its global real-time grid level communications and financial settlement capabilities, to these projects, and we look forward to the opportunity to help these communities secure their energy future,” said Kevin Meagher, Power Analytics Chief Operating Officer.
As part of the feasibility studies, Siemens will provide the technical architecture of the proposed electrical and thermal systems and ensure that community-specific operating requirements are incorporated into the proposed microgrid control solutions. Siemens will evaluate and identify the microgrid control, generation and grid infrastructure components that will be necessary for a fully operation system.
“As a technology partner for cities across the U.S., Siemens, in conjunction with partners Booz Allen Hamilton and Power Analytics, is thrilled to support microgrid development in New York State because we know that these technologies provide some of the most intelligent, efficient, reliable and secure ways to manage power for the needs of a 21st century power market,” said Pat Wilkinson, head of Siemens Energy Automation. “We applaud these communities and the state of New York for taking a huge step in putting these innovative energy technologies to use.”
Booz Allen, Siemens and Power Analytics joined forces in the NY Prize program to take their expertise in technology, energy, public and private sector programming to a new level and to prepare for what’s next as utilities move toward the future. As the traditional utility business model is shifting to more distributed energy generation and delivery, Booz Allen has been helping utilities to address this evolving regulatory landscape nationwide. Additionally, their cyber and physical security knowledge is essential in the face of natural and man-made threats to ensure communities have the power they need.
Success in this new era requires research and learning around not only technical specifications, but also how these technologies will impact governments, businesses and consumers in a new, more secure energy marketplace. NY Prize represents the next frontier, and an opportunity to learn by doing.
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