AI-Based Controller for Storage Optimization: AVANGRID
Description of the Partnership Opportunity
Avangrid Networks (“AVANGRID”) and its operating companies, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), have a commitment to build and operate energy infrastructure that benefits local communities, improves economic development, and delivers environmental sustainability for future generations. In addition to this, AVANGRID is committed to working with developers, customers, and communities within our service territory to advance local policy and climate goals.
AVANGRID is seeking to collaboratively design, deploy, and test an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based controller to optimize the use of storage and the performance of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The controller will be used as an enhancement to the solution used in AVANGRID’s ongoing Integrated EV and Battery Storage REV Demonstration project. The site of the project is at RG&E’s Operations Center at 1300 Scottsville Road in Rochester, New York.
Top Goals and Objectives of This Opportunity
As currently designed, the EV charging system that is used in the Integrated EV and Battery Storage project operates by following EV and building load in real time. The goal of the proposed partnership is to develop and implement a solution that will optimize the use of a storage system to ensure maximum utilization of the entire system, as well as to capture maximum value from the following use cases:
- Building and circuit demand reduction,
- Building load factor improvement,
- Energy arbitrage,
- Demand response performance, and
- Inform infrastructure impact and rate design.
AVANGRID will consider additional features that can be implemented to benefit the company, its customers, and third-party market partners. The AI controller solution should be scalable to account for future projects with similar or larger size and complexity.
Target Customers and/or Applications
It is envisioned that the proposed partnership will work as an enhancement to the ongoing Integrated EV Charging and Battery System demonstration project, which is located in AVANGRID’s premises and uses vehicles that are owned and operated by AVANGRID.
Partnerships being Considered
The proposed partnership model should align with REV objectives for shared risk and shared reward between the partners, while ensuring that customers and society at large will benefit from the project.
Potential Replicability and Scalability
Potential partners should propose a partnership structure that is suitable for a pilot project, with consideration for how the pilot will also serve as an example of a scalable model for broader execution, potentially leveraging external funding opportunities.
Primary REV Objective
The proposed partnership will develop a solution that aims to improve local and system-wide efficiency, in alignment with the REV Objective to adopt new technologies and approaches to improve the utilization of the grid infrastructure.
Background / Related Information
RG&E is installing battery storage, level 2 EV chargers, and fast DC chargers at its 1300 Scottsville Road operations center. The Company will use the battery storage system to minimize the cost impact of the EV chargers, which will be used by the Company’s fleet. The Company will also attempt to stack the battery system’s value in other ways, where possible.
The integrated EV charging and battery storage system is comprised of the following:
- Battery and Battery Management System – A 150 kW and 600 kWh battery is utilized to strategically supply the EV chargers and the building’s daily, monthly, and annual peak demand. The Battery Management System is capable of managing battery charging and dispatch such that the load from the EV charging station does not coincide with the peak of the building loads, therefore avoiding paying excess demand charges or adding additional peak loads to the building.
- Flexible Level 2 EV Chargers – The five (5) level 2 chargers (7.2 kW in size) have the ability to receive commands to curtail charging for any scheduled period of time.
- DC Fast EV Chargers – The two (2) DC fast chargers (one 50 kW, and the other 62.5 kW in size) have the ability to recharge a vehicle up to approximately 80% of its full charge level in 60 minutes.
Detailed information on the project can be found in the Implementation Plan for the Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging & Battery Storage System project.
NYSEG and RG&E’s Utility Profile
Energy Storage Innovation Sprint
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