Monitoring the grid
Date: Thu, October 09, 2014
Time: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Location: Holmes Hall 244
Speaker: Dr. Dora Nakafuji, Director, Renewable Energy Planning, HECO
Abstract
The electric power industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation due to market, politics and technological change. From generation to load, nearly every facet of traditional grid operations is transforming as a result of increasing levels of renewable generation, including distributed generation. Operating with a new portfolio of generating resources requires new tools for control, communication, analytics and customer involvement. This presentation provides a glimpse at grid modernization initiatives being pursued by Hawaiian Electric and “like-minded” industry partners. Modernization technologies include dynamic storage, integrated data analytics, customer customizable in home management capability and real-time forecasting. Together the Companies are collaboratively developing and enabling in Hawaii innovative technologies to better accommodate Hawaii’s growing fleet of behind the meter, rooftop PV systems. The new technologies provide enabling grid support services for the future power grid.
About the speaker:
Dr. Dora Nakafuji is the Director of Renewable Energy Planning at Hawaiian Electric Company. For the past 4 years, her division has been spearheading and coordinating many of the renewable integration and technology demonstration initiatives being undertaken by the island utilities. Efforts include operationalizing wind and solar forecasting, distributed generation impact analysis, data analysis and visualization, EMS integration, workforce development and technical outreach with industry and academia. Grid modernization efforts leverage industry partnerships and grant funding to contend with changing requirements and operating with high penetrations of renewables. Dora is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, and has been working in renewables and integration initiatives over the past 15 years.