ABB

Economical Data-fused Grid Edge Processor (EDGEPRO) for Future Distribution Grid Control Applications

Grid

Electricity Generation and Delivery

Program:
OPEN 2018

Award:
$2,302,897

Location:
Cary, North Carolina

Status:

ALUMNI

Project Term:
02/21/2019 - 05/31/2022

Website:

http://new.abb.com

Critical Need:

The extensive deployment of smart meters and sensors has flooded distribution utilities with field data. Often, the data contains errors, missing information, and outliers, and requires authentication. Different sensor networks collect data in different formats, making it cumbersome to compile, convert, and align the information. Equipment sensors and meter networks typically use different communication protocols, causing interoperability issues. As measurement points, data resolution requirements, and control actions increase, the cost of storing, processing, and computing data collected from field devices becomes prohibitively high. Consequently, data is examined only when a problem occurs. This leads to poor visibility of system operations and slow response time to faults and system anomalies.

Project Innovation + Advantages:

ABB Inc. will design a low-cost, secure, and flexible next-generation grid service platform to improve grid efficiency and reliability. This technology will merge advanced edge computing, data fusion and machine learning techniques for virtual metering, and create a central repository for grid applications such as distributed energy resource (DER) control and others on one platform. The united platform will consist of four functional layers: (1) communication including data collection and exchange, (2) data processing and distributed state estimation, (3) data standardization and storage, and (4) hosted grid applications designed to enable large-scale deployment of DERs and more flexible grid control. ABB’s approach will integrate and maximize emerging technologies in the transition to a decentralized and distributed electric grid.

Potential Impact:

EDGEPRO will be the first generation of a truly general-purpose grid edge service platform that achieves communication interoperability, has advanced computing and extensive data processing capabilities, offers localized data service, and supports customer configuration of grid applications.

Security:

EDGEPRO will facilitate secure and fast communication of grid data from various sources. The project will speed up and support prevention, containment, and control functions to address grid performance and disturbances. This self-healing grid will operate resiliently against system disturbances, natural disasters, and potential cyber security attacks.

Environment:

More efficient, better managed grid systems and enhanced reliability will reduce utilities’ dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help the U.S. meet emissions targets.

Economy:

EDGEPRO will monitor and manage the grid and grid-connected devices, proactively identifying future grid problems and failures, and will reduce the need to install additional grid monitoring devices. These capabilities will provide distribution utility customers with significant savings on energy efficiency and network reliability improvements.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:

Dr. Richard O'Neill

Project Contact:

James Stoupis

Press and General Inquiries Email:

ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov

Project Contact Email:

james.stoupis@us.abb.com

Partners

North Carolina State University

Related Projects

Release Date:

11/15/2018

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