Distributed Generation

Distributed Generators are a viable source of demand response assets for a utility. They can be bid into the ISO markets as non-spin reserves, provide contingency power, and be used to offset capacity shortages. Utilities are building programs to aggregate customer-owned generators into blocks that can be bid into the energy markets.

Our Distributed Generation Solution is built upon the Yukon Energy Services Platform. This platform provides a number of services and capabilities that allow us to provide a flexible and comprehensive solution that includes:

• Flexible Communications: Yukon supports a wide range of communication media and protocols. Communication media includes the internet, 900 MHz Fixed and spread spectrum radio, cellular, and fixed telephone. While, in most cases the command and control protocol is the utility standard DNP 3.0, we have implemented the protocol so that it can be wrapped into TCP/IP, UDP, or other carrier methods
• Sophisticated Controls: Our Load Control software provides a wide set of control technology especially suited to distributed generation including the ability to trigger events on an external signal, manage resources to delivery a specific load block and add individual unit run constraints
• C&I LM Module: Our DG solutions are fully integrated within the C&I LM Module which provides notification, accounting and settlement services for the program members
• Metering: Yukon includes a variety of mechanisms to collect metering data from the field. Options include unit monitoring and main meter monitoring with the use of a baseline calculation to determine site contribution
• Site Hardware: We provide a variety of industrial solutions for the field hardware to monitor and control the site that can be tailored to fit the size and composition of the DG equipment

Range of Distribution Generation Solutions

Distributed Generators are a viable source of commercial demand response assets. For many years, customers have installed generator units at their business operations. Cooper Power Systems provides numerous options of packaged distribution generation solutions.

• Large (5,000-30kW)
• Medium (300-50kW)
• Small (<50kW)

These options are shown in the following figure:

In each of the scenarios outlined here, the Yukon system provides a user interface for the utility to operate, manage, and monitor the distributed generation units. The utility can operate the units individually, as a block, or use more sophisticated control schemes to meet a specific load target. Cooper Power Systems also provides a user interface for the industrial customer that can include notification of a control event, meter data display, and details on the generator.

Cooper Power Systems has found that there is no single best way to communicate to field equipment. The choice of communication technology is determined by availability, cost, and operational requirements. Yukon supports a wide range of communication options, and the utility has the option of mixing and matching communication to best fit the application and resource requirements.

Distribution Generation Options

Large Generation Units (5,000-300 kW)

These are generally custom designed for the specific installation and may include sophisticated ramping in/out schemes, relaying and synchronization. From a utility standpoint, the larger the generator load, the more impact the operation of the unit will have on the utility power system.

The units have sophisticated protection, operation/synchronization, and interconnect systems. Cooper Power Systems solution for Large Distributed Generators is an RTU capable of communication to an external PLC as shown in the following figure:

The communication from the Yukon Master Station to the Distributed Generation units is done using DNP 3.0. The RTU provides a start/stop relay control pair, and analog and status inputs for connecting any discrete IO points. The unit can communicate to the distributed generators PLC or to IEDs located at the site. The unit also supports the direct connection of a sub-meter.

Medium Generation Units (300-50kW)

These units contain protection hardware and a parallel/synchronization device. In these installations, the utility is primarily interested in starting the devices and the status of the transfer switch. The Cooper Power Systems solution for Medium Distributed Generators is an RTU with discrete I/O as illustrated in the following figure:

The communication from the Yukon Master Station to the Distributed Generation units is done using DNP 3.0. The RTU provides a start/stop relay control pair, and analog and station inputs for connecting any discrete IO points. Meter data can be acquired from the site meter. Yukon can directly query this meter to validate the load drop at the facility.

Small Generation Units (<50kW)

In general, these units are fully packaged solutions with standard synchronization and under-frequency contactors. Small units are designed to provide load to the critical components of a business.

Small Generation Units have simple protection hardware. In these installations, the utility is primarily interested in starting the device and validating at load drop at the site. The Cooper Power Systems solution for Small Distributed Generators is a paging LCR with a start/stop control relay as shown in the following figure:

The communication from the Yukon Master Station to the Distributed Generation unit is done using the flex paging communication to minimize communication and site installation costs. The RTU provides a start/stop relay control pair. The site Utility Meter is polled to verify that there is a load reduction at the site.