The Salem Smart Power Center opened May 31 in Salem, Oregon, as a part of a series of smart grid energy delivery tests. Designed to help further integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the electrical grid, the 8,000 square foot facility is built with an energy storage system, much like a giant battery.
The storage device itself is a 5-megawatt, lithium-ion battery system containing 1,440 batteries. It is designed to work in conjunction with generators within a microgrid smoothing power flow and reducing outages. The electrical storage device was designed and built by Enerdel, a company which supplies high-capacity batteries to industry.
Portland General Electric (PGE) and Eaton Electrical Service and Systems, an industrial manufacturer, worked together to develop the new $23 million dollar project. This initial investment included $178 million dollars in matching funds from the Department of Energy (DoE). There are 15 other such smart grids around five states in the Pacific Northwest funded by the agency for the tests, and around 60,000 people are currently being supplied by energy produced under this program.
This new system will "...advance the electrical infrastructure and test new smart grid technologies with business and residential customers," Bill Miller, global marketing director for Eaton, said.
The power center's smart grid system will also allow PGE to store renewable energy, something that could not be done with previous technology. Software within the grid allows the electric company to store energy when production costs are low and draw energy from the storage device when prices are higher. People in Salem participating in the program allowed the power company to turn their hot water heaters on and off remotely in order to save electricity.
The smart energy grid was developed as part of the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project (PNW-SGDP). The project creates micro-grids to serve areas of several hundred homes and businesses. Businesses served by the new smart grid in Salem include the makers of Kettle Brand potato chips, which is connecting 616 solar panels to the system.
When the new facility opened on May 31 in Salem, the governor of the state, as well as Senator Ron Wyden, were on hand to celebrate.
"Oregon is already a national leader in energy efficiency with rich opportunities to boost locally produced renewable energy and clean energy infrastructure. It seems only fitting we help lead a future that not only powers our homes and businesses in the most efficient way, but also the smartest," John Kitzhaber, Governor of Oregon, said.
