Smart Grid – Fall 2011 Progress Report
A $4.5 million bond for implementing Smart Grid in Concord was approved at Town Meeting in April 2009.
Infrastructure Construction
The Smart Grid project is organized into four geographic phases. Due to the severe 2011 winter season and overdue equipment shipments, the fiber network and infrastructure construction was delayed. Phase 1 construction for underground and aerial networks was completed in early July 2011, and work continues on the 110-mile, town-wide fiber optic network.
Contractors completed all construction phases with fiber electronics work also done at our Main Street substation. Additional fiber electronics has been installed at the Williams Road substation. Concord Light's revised project timing is to have the Smart Grid infrastructure completed by late November 2011.
The four phases of roll out are:
- Phase 1 – Main Street in the areas around and including Emerson Hospital
- Phase 2 – Town Center and east to Lincoln and Bedford
- Phase 3 – North on Monument Street and surrounding areas, including Annursnac Hill
- Phase 4 – South and southwest areas of Concord
Now that deployment of the NexGrid (formerly Intelagrid) infrastructure in the Phase 1 area is complete, we have begun work in Phase 2 (which includes parts of Virginia Rd, Thoreau St, and Keyes Rd). Concord Light has installed street lights per the new street light policy, and new controllers will be installed on these lights in coming months.
Load Management
NexGrid will allow two-way communication for electric load management as well as possible future applications. We are currently converting Phase 1 and 2 load management customers' electric thermal storage heating (ETS heating) and/or controlled water heaters from our existing system to the Smart Grid's wireless, fiber-based system.
Concord Light is developing additional load management ideas for using the Smart Grid infrastructure to reduce peak demand with minimal impact on residents, while reducing power and transmissions costs for the town. We will pilot a voluntary program next summer for Phase 1 and 2 residents and businesses to control their central air conditioning and swimming pool pumps when a peak demand hour is anticipated.
Smart Grid Phases
See the Smart Grid Street by Phase Map for a listing of streets included in each phase. (these are large .pdf files - PC users can right click on the links below and "save as" on your desktop; Mac Users can "Ctrl Click" and save).
Smart Grid – Annual Reports
The Annual Report discusses the status of the Smart Grid project overall and bond money spending to date.
Smart Grid – Frequently Asked Questions
Smart Grid – Presentation to Board of Selectman
Additional Information – Smart Grid Technology
Following is a list of some of the weblinks available for further information on Smart Grid technology:
Concord Light is partnering with NexGrid on Smart Grid solutions for load management and monitoring electric usage. Concord Light will also offer NexGrid's web-based portal for customers to manage their energy use and devices such as programmable thermostats from their mobile phones or PCs.
The Department of Energy has launched an interactive website designed to provide Smart Grid information. The website, SmartGrid.gov, features detailed answers to frequently asked questions on the smart grid, facts, and information about electric vehicles, and renewable energy.
"How Smart Is The Smart Grid?" On July 7, 2010, NPR (National Public Radio) interviewed Dan Delurey, president of the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition. The Coalition is a trade association representing companies offering programs to business and residential electric users that will take the load off the electrical grid during peak demands and emergencies. This is an interesting interview and explains Smart Grid in easily-understood language. To hear the interview: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128365808
And finally, links to Technology Review at MIT:
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