Grid Edge Control™
Why Grid Edge Control is Important
Controlling voltage on the low side of the distribution transformer provides utilities with significant benefits. Low voltage dynamic VAR control helps to:
Better accommodate high penetration of EV charging and industrial loads on feeders by ensuring that 114V minimums are met
Improve energy savings by creating increased margin above 114V to enable CVR voltage drops for energy savings
Increase solar hosting capacity without overvoltage issues by creating more upper margin below the 126V
How Grid Edge Control Works
The Sentient Energy Grid Edge Control solution includes Edge of Network Grid Optimization hardware and Grid Edge Management System software.
Our ENGO device is connected on the customer side of the transformer at 208, 240, or 277 volts to monitor and actively adjusts line voltage levels by injecting reactive power when line voltage drops below a configurable setpoint. Each ENGO is capable of injecting 1 kVAR increments on a sub-cycle basis up to 10 kVAR and communicates via cellular or mesh networks to a head-end system.
GEMS software provides real-time visibility of all ENGO activity and enables remote setpoint changes and firmware upgrades.
Key Features
Sentient Energy’s Grid Edge Control solution provides new capabilities for voltage control on the last segment of the distribution system:
- Dynamic Volt VAR control (0-10 kVAR) per ENGO device
- Capable of injecting 1 kVAR increments on a sub-cycle basis
- Voltage monitoring and reporting
- Over-the-air setpoint and firmware upgrades
- Easy pole mount installation below distribution transformer
Grid Edge Control Benefits
Sentient Energy’s Grid Edge Control solution is field proven to deliver 1-3% incremental energy savings as part of existing Conservation Voltage Reduction programs. When deployed at utilities with high penetration of solar generation, Grid Edge Control has been shown to increase solar hosting capabilities by 92%. And for systems with high rates of EV charging, Grid Edge Control has been shown to raise low voltage points from 108.5V up to the 114V minimum level.
What is the “Grid Edge”?
The term “grid edge” has varying meanings based on who uses it. Metering companies often refer to the meter as the grid edge. At Sentient Energy, we consider the grid edge more broadly. Our Grid Edge Control solution applies to segment of the distribution grid between the last transformer and the meter.
