The Event
DISTRIBUTECH International has concluded this year's edition: the major annual event for transmission and distribution, covering technologies that move electricity from power plants to end users.
Both the conference and the exhibition provided insights, products and services and learning opportunities about the main areas of the energy sector. This year’s edition took place in Orlando, from the 27th to the 29th of February.
The Booth
We were at booth number 3225 showcasing our Virtualization and Edge Processing Platform for MV and LV Grid Automation, which is designed for the network ecosystem starting from cities, to neighborhoods, homes, and also isolated areas like islands.
For cities
Our Quantum Edge® device enables grid operators to run key grid functionalities directly on the edge, virtualizes key network automation functions through customizable applications and reduces the amount of equipment in substations. In order to constantly improve grid resilience and ensure stability and reliability, our software solution for medium voltage (MV) grid automation enables grid operators to benefit from greater control, faster response times (up to less than one second) and the ability to provide uninterrupted power.
For neighborhoods
We also developed a new smaller form-factor version of the iconic edge device, for grid operators who need an effortless, integrated solution for low-voltage management. Thanks to its virtualization technology, it can act as an interoperable meter data concentrator supporting multiple communication protocols, a Remote Terminal Unit, as well as a virtual router.
This device is capable of monitoring the status of LV feeders and exploiting its cloud-edge potential to the fullest, it can be integrated with Gridspertise’s new centralized Low Voltage Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition platform.
For homes
We offer a full End-to-End metering platform that includes hardware, software and managed services. In particular: a series of meters and accessories that support various communication technologies (including RF & P2P), a set of services that want to set utilities free from managing field operations, maintenance and other services allowing them to focus on their main business, a cloud platform that includes all applications inlcuding our HES and MDMS and worksforce management services that can be integrated with any GIS.
Metering as-a-Service allows grid operators to focus on their core business while a trusted partner manages the rest of the process. This model can benefit both grid operators and end customers with a sustainable solution, reducing operational risk while increasing overall performance.
For isolated areas
The aforementioned Quantum Edge® device can serve as a microgrid controller since it provides edge synchrophasor measurements in given portions of the network, exposes dynamic data of the grid virtual inertia and accurate fault location calculation. It can also act as a DER Gateway to dispatch flexibility commands between edge devices and central systems (SCADA, DERMS). We have dedicated a White Paper to this topic, regarding Edge Computing Virtualization Platforms
The Conferences
Our company hosted two speaking sessions on Wednesday 28th:
- From 2:45 - 3:15 pm, we covered “Edge Computing and Virtualization for Improved Protection, Automation and Control” as part of the Grid Edge Technologies Knowledge Hub. This session covered the mix of combined edge computing and virtualization that allow significant advancements to existing protection, automation and control, easing the transition to the grid of the future. It was held by three speakers: our Chief Technology Officer, Gianni Ceneri, joined by Marco Nunes, Head of Grid Edge & Cloud Analytics at ABB Grid Components, and Faramarz Maghsoodlou, Senior Director, Global Lead for Energy & Utilities Business at QUALCOMM.
- From 4:15 - 4:45pm, we held a panel on “Low Voltage SCADA and Distribution Grid Monitoring”, organized within the City of the Future Knowledge Hub. This speaking opportunity focused on the challenges of the modern grid: the combination of aging infrastructure and rapid growth of DERs is increasing the complexity in the distribution grid, to address these issues tools are designed directly for the LV sector. The speakers were Michael Yellin, our Head of BD & Sales North America, and Marco Stangalino, IoT Sales Specialist at Cisco.