Siemens Energy is set to demonstrate its new Smart Grid monitor technology with Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L). This allows all functions to be monitored within the Smart Grid project control center. The project goal is to determine how this and other innovative technologies can enable and advance utilities in the future. Based on these results, KCP&L may integrate this system into its other locations.

The project scope includes Siemen’s Spectrum Power distribution management system which will coordinate the Midtown substation, Siemens Smart Substation Controller and it will have control of all of the intelligent distribution field equipment.

The combined functions of the pre-existing system and the Spectrum Power will enable and manage the KCP&L Green Impact Zone in this project. The existing systems at KCP&L will be integrated with this new system performing integral functions.

The purpose of this system is to verify a full range of standard modeling and information exchange protocols necessary to implement a functional, cost-effective and secure intelligent grid. In order to implement a system wide level of successful processes, this project will aim to define, validate and verify the necessary parameters and adjustments for KCP&L.

"Siemens' technology will help KCP&L enhance service for the entire Kansas City Midtown area through improved reliability, reduced energy delivery costs, more efficient energy consumption, improved carbon footprint and enhanced information flow," said Ed Matthews, director, Smart Grid, KCP&L. "KCP&L believes this project will serve as a blueprint for future Smart Grid implementation and will accelerate a realization that the 'utility of the future' safely delivers reliable electricity with greater efficiency, reduced costs and improved environmental performance."

KCP&L’s investment of approximately $48.1 million will deliver benefits to 14,000 customers in the Green Impact Zone.

The operational backbone of the project, the Spectrum power distribution management system (DMS) and Smart Substation Controllers, support complex and automated feeder reconfiguration decisions and integrated supervision of the control centers.

The DMS is unique because it is the primary point of integration for facilities, consumer, electrical system, load, distributed energy resource and real time substation and feeder information. The DMS includes outage management, distribution supervisory control and data acquisition, distribution network analysis and integration with KCP&L’s management system.

The Smart Substation controller’s purpose is to establish an intelligent substation IT infrastructure, able to make feeder and substation reconfiguration. This grid helps prepare the integration of renewable and variable energy resources for both controllable demand and demand response.

The DMS and Smart Substation are essential in managing Volt/VAr conditions because they continuously modify protection settings to manage crew safety.

"Siemens is pleased to take a leadership role in the development and implementation of KCP&L's Smart Grid demonstration project," said Mike Edmonds, vice president and general manager of Siemens Energy, Inc.'s Power Distribution Energy Automation business. "The approach is focused on increasing automation to improve grid reliability and increase controllability, while setting the stage for the integration of alternative energy sources and enhancing the opportunities for demand response."

The KCP&L and Seimens collaboration is intended to help transform today’s smart grid into a living infrastructure that will be able to respond quickly, comprehensively and flexibly to society’s needs.

Reprinted with permission from GreenTech TV