Homes served by the McAlpine Creek substation in Charlotte, North Carolina will soon have power provided by a solar array of 213 panels. Duke Energy installed the solar panels in order to implement new smart grid technology in the area.The substation will be provided with around 50 kilowatts of power from the solar array – enough energy to provide for five homes when the sun is shining. Power will be sent directly to homes or to charge a 500 kilowatt battery that will be installed in the substation in the future.Duke Energy will use the solar panels and battery along with an energy management system to create a “virtual power plant” that combines energy efficiency with renewable energy sources and storage technology to meet the energy needs of customers.For the past year Duke Energy has been installing smart meters at more than 8,000 homes in south Charlotte along with new information communications technology installed on utility poles and within transmission lines. Once fully deployed, the new technology will improve the stability of the power grid while providing customers with greatly enhanced visibility into their power consumption.“Today’s electric distribution system has changed little over the past 100 years,” said David Mohler, chief technology officer at Duke Energy. “Smart grid will provide a 21st century, two-way digital communications link between the company and its customers.”
In addition to the smart meter program, about 100 households are enrolled in a residential energy management pilot project. Duke is learning about the technical, operational, and customer satisfaction characteristics of emerging smart grid technologies. Customers are able to save money by monitoring how much energy they use, learning how much that consumption costs, and then making adjustments accordingly.
Customers in the program are able to work with Duke Energy in order to develop an “energy profile” that can be used to automate the energy management process by controlling the thermostat, water heaters, dryers, and other appliances. Customers who actively participate will be able to save on their energy bills.
“McAlpine [the Charlotte neighbourhood] is becoming a key laboratory where we will learn as much as possible about smart grid technology in a real-life application,” said Mohler. We plan to launch similar installations throughout our system in the future.”
Duke Energy owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas, and hydroelectric plants in the Carolinas region. In all the utility provides around 19 gigawatts of power for about 2.4 million customers in a service area covering 22,000 square miles in North and South Carolina.
Duke is the third largest provider of electricity in the United States in terms of kilowatt hour sales. It provides power to a population of about 11 million in five states – Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina. The company operates a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Duke Energy
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
http://www.duke-energy.com
Customers in the program are able to work with Duke Energy in order to develop an “energy profile” that can be used to automate the energy management process by controlling the thermostat, water heaters, dryers, and other appliances. Customers who actively participate will be able to save on their energy bills.
“McAlpine [the Charlotte neighbourhood] is becoming a key laboratory where we will learn as much as possible about smart grid technology in a real-life application,” said Mohler. We plan to launch similar installations throughout our system in the future.”
Duke Energy owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas, and hydroelectric plants in the Carolinas region. In all the utility provides around 19 gigawatts of power for about 2.4 million customers in a service area covering 22,000 square miles in North and South Carolina.
Duke is the third largest provider of electricity in the United States in terms of kilowatt hour sales. It provides power to a population of about 11 million in five states – Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina. The company operates a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Duke Energy
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
http://www.duke-energy.com
