George Salah, Chairman and CEOA few years ago, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) issued a Net Energy Metering (NEM) policy which prohibited contractors and residents from installing even a small photovoltaic system without a legal order. The rapid rollout of solar power was stressing the state’s grid—traditionally designed for one way power flow—and causing unanticipated voltage fluctuations. This occurred as solar system designers failed to understand the dynamics behind the energy triangle relating to real, reactive, and apparent power. While electrical loads on premises require a certain amount of real and reactive power, the grid was designed to move only real power effectively. On the other hand, reactive power is transmitted with only 10 percent efficiency, causing transformers and wires to heat up severely. “Ironically most solar systems make nearly 100 percent real power and no reactive power, which forces the buildings’ reactive loads to be served very inefficiently by the generator across the grid,” explains George Salah, Chairman and CEO, Apparent. The need of the hour is solar and storage solutions that make both real and reactive power which will allow customers to save money and the utility to serve more customers without upgrading grid equipment.
Another pertinent challenge, characteristic of solar panels, is the voltage shift created in the grids owing to the intermittent nature of solar energy. On a cloudy day, solar panels stay dormant, resulting in voltage drop-offs and the grid is forced to deploy generators to supplement the power loss, which can even lead to brownouts or blackouts. “The increased grid capacity requirement, coupled with the unpredictability of renewable sources has the utilities scrambling for infrastructure upgrades, adding steep fees for solar customers, and burning more fuel.”
"In short, solar will power the future of the U.S. and we have the demand response system that spells the next wave in smart grid technology"
The Next Generation Smart Grid
In such a scenario, pushing the boundaries in new power technology, Apparent’s smart grid solution ensures smooth integration of energy from any environmentally friendly resource to an electrical load, battery storage, or the grid. The company’s Intelligent Grid Operating System (iGoS) and Microgrid Inverter (MGi) technology suite uses a combination of software and hardware to manage energy to harness a greater dimension of power from renewable systems, while delivering intelligence and control to the grid.
Our software, with its real-time energy and decision management capability, enables consumers to effectively maintain electrical loads and also provides visibility
The iGoS and MGi hold the capability to produce apparent power on demand and improves the efficiency of energy transportation throughout the grid. Rather than delivering watts from connected energy sources, Apparent’s technology dynamically and automatically adjusts reactive power production, matches voltage and electrical impedance, and delivers all of the benefits of a spinning generator to the benefit of customer and grid operator alike.
Diligently developing their technology since the past decade, Apparent’s solution is not only robust and cost effective, but also completely compliant with new energy standards. As Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) strive to attain grid stability, Apparent’s intelligent grid technology is fully supportive of varied tariff and interconnection rules. “Moreover, our software, with its real-time energy and decision management capability, enables consumers to effectively maintain electrical loads and also provides visibility in the rise and fall of solar for the utilities, allowing them to adjust their power output,” remarks Salah. All Apparent enabled systems are overlaid with the capability to monitor energy performance through analytics and deliver full dispatch and control capabilities.
The efficacy of Apparent’s technology is such that in no time customers witness 30 percent more revenue from energy production. Powered by a cloud-based model, Apparent negates the need for expensive hardware installations and technology updates are handled remotely, saving time and expenses. “Typical grocery stores have a very high reactive load, so Apparent's technology adds as much as 50 percent to revenue making for a very quick return on investment.” explains Salah.
Revolutionizing Renewable Energy
The demand for solar power is escalating throughout the U.S. According to a research by the Solar Energy Industries Association, there are currently 600,000 installed solar systems and the number is expected to reach 3.3 million by 2020. As tomorrow’s grid will be reshaped with more solar arrays, Apparent is fully equipped to supply the precise power demands of a consumer onto the existing grid without uprooting systems or making large investments. Recently, California legislators passed a bill stating that 50 percent of the state’s power will be derived from renewable energy by 2030.
