Swell Energy Inc., a smart grid solutions provider, has launched GridAmp, its proprietary Distributed Energy Resource Management System. The enhanced DERMS platform combines Distributed Energy Resources, including solar and battery-storage devices, into virtual plants (VPP), which provides advanced grid capabilities to utilities.
GridAmp will control multiple grid service operations with behind-the-meter solar-powered batteries within Swell’s Home Battery Rewards program, an 80 MW distributed VPP being developed on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i islands – as contracted with Hawaiian Electric and approved by the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission.
“Working with Power Partner grid service aggregators like Swell is an essential part of reaching Hawaiian Electric’s goal to cut carbon emissions from power generation 70% by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions from power generation by 2045 or sooner,” says Yoh Kawanami, Hawaiian Electric’s co-director of customer energy resources.
Swell’s GridAmp software is designed to maximize revenue across multiple utility and customer value streams using optimization algorithms and machine learning models that inform and automate DER and VPP operations. GridAmp provides a differentiated ability to co-optimize or “stack” multiple grid services to support a variety of energy objectives at the customer, utility and wholesale market levels.
The software allows customization and interoperability for different utility markets and DER integrations. GridAmp is designed to be inclusive across various technologies and manufacturers, expanding the breadth of Swell’s VPP partnerships and geographies. The DERMS platform is integrated with Swell’s operations and customer facing platforms to further enable rapid turnkey deployment of DERs and enhance participation in VPPs.
“GridAmp co-optimizes the VPP experience for end-users and the utility, fundamentally enhancing value and customer participation in generating, consuming, and transacting renewable electricity,” states Suleman Khan, CEO of Swell. “Through our various technology partnerships and a comprehensive ‘VPP in a Box’ solution, Swell unites homeowners, businesses, industry partners, and utilities behind the shared goal of utilizing VPPs to yield reliable, cost-effective, flexible energy in an equitable manner.”
Swell’s first GridAmp enabled VPP in Hawai‘i will simultaneously balance three separate grid services, namely Capacity Build, Capacity Reduction and Fast Frequency Response, to help manage Hawaiian Electric’s energy supply by absorbing excess renewable energy from the grid as production spikes and dispatching energy when needed, thus reducing peak demand and providing 24/7 fast frequency response to balance the three island grids.
Solar-powered energy storage systems located at homes and businesses of Hawaiian Electric customers will collectively and autonomously meet the customer’s demands and respond to the grid’s dynamic needs. In return, Swell’s VPP customers receive GridRevenue and gain additional GridSavings by shifting their energy use throughout the day. These capabilities and services are available for utilities across the nation.