Project

Testing a Distribution Grid-level Energy Market

Customer:

Ameren Illinois

Status:

Completed

Objectives:

  • Demonstrate to Ameren the applicability of the GridOS Transactive Energy Management System (TEMS) to run simulations that will help plan and establish the parameters and operational considerations for future transactive energy business models
  • Produce a white paper on the feasibility and suitability of leveraging and integrating blockchain ledger technology in the GridOS system.

Solution:

Opus One worked with Ameren to develop a simulation tool that could run various scenarios to address multiple considerations and constraints for trading energy in a transactive platform and provide financial outcomes that can be analyzed to determine the financial performance of the transactive energy marketplace. To achieve the project’s goals, Opus One deployed its GridOS TEMS simulation tool using the network model and data from Ameren’s microgrids sites.

The TEMS simulator tool can:

  • Generate time-specific, locational marginal price signals to establish DER value at the distribution level
  • Simulate scenarios akin to those a distribution-level marketplace with participating DER would experience
  • Create analytics for distribution utility staff to evaluate the implications of operating DER through coordinated scheduling and pricing based on asset capabilities and market needs in a “Gaming Mode”
  • Provide comprehensive metrics and measurements in an easy to understand graphical dashboard

Anticipated Outcomes:

Using the software, Ameren will be able to understand and establish the parameters required to create a Transactive Energy Market, while providing insights on how to minimize operating and maintenance costs, distribution system capacity costs, and distribution losses as well as understanding the impacts of incentives to achieve the right energy and capacity mix, at the right location, at the right time, with the right certainty.

The white paper will provide knowledge on best practices in implementing and integrating a blockchain solution with GridOS and cost-benefit input for centralized vs. decentralized ledger systems.