Clean Team Proposal to Conduct a Study on the Impact of Small-Source Solar Energy Production and Plug-In Electric Cars on the Power Grid and Power Production
Supporting Material
Contents:
A. Background
B. Scope of Work
C. Assumptions
D. Approach / Task Description
E. Major Project Milestones
Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in This Proposal
|
acronym |
full-name |
|
ATP |
Approval to
Proceed |
|
IPR |
In Progress
Review |
|
MW |
Megawatts |
|
NOVEC |
Northern
Virginia Electric Cooperative |
Clean Team Consulting is a newly formed systems engineering group specializing in research and analysis of small-scale electric utility development projects. The group is composed of four consultants, all with education and experience in technical areas. Clean Team strives to provide customers with a complete picture of potential development projects in order to support financially prudent and environmentally conscience decisions.
The current state of energy sourcing and production in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States relies heavily on ‘traditional’ energy sources, including coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. While the current arrangement allows for near-term reliable and low cost power production, reliance on fossil fuels and high-risk sources creates an unsustainable solution for the long term.
As discussed in our meeting with Mr. Robert Bisson of NOVEC on 10/06/2011, across the industry, there continues to be a great need for increased investment in renewable energy. At present, electric companies are required to accept locally sourced renewable energy into the power grid. Also discussed during our meeting was the growing concern regarding the impact of increased plug-in electric cars usage on the existing power grid.
Locally sourced energy production includes wind, solar, and stored energy in electric car batteries. For electric cars, the major concerns are the ability to purchase power at off-peak rates and then selling that power back during peak-rate usage times, and the potential demand on the system caused by high battery recharge demand. All of these parameters have an impact on price, rate structure, and profits.
The scope of work to be performed under this task is as follows.
Description:
1. Through completion of the proposed project, our goal will be to provide a thorough analysis and final report on various levels of locally sourced energy production capacity for a representative “neighborhood” currently serviced by NOVEC. Included in the report will be a complete analysis of the energy production capacity based on physical limitations of the sourcing ”neighborhood”, as well as the actual likelihood of implementing home/residential solar in the area under consideration.
2. We will analyze and report to the customer, the impact of increased plug-in electrical car usage on the power grid. This analysis will also include what impacts the use of electrical car batteries as energy could have on NOVEC’s business model.
3. We will review all relevant federal, state, and local regulations as they pertain to small-scale solar power usage and electric car battery usage and charging.
4. Analysis to be included in a final report to NOVEC will include background research into current energy production capacity and use characteristics for the “neighborhood” in question.
5. The final report to the Customer will include the development of architectural artifacts used to model, analyze, and draw conclusions on the impact of the factors at hand.
Planned Duration of Task: 9 weeks.
1.
Assume all
current federal, state and local regulations on locally sourced energy
production and electric car battery usage apply.
2.
Assume NOVEC
power production infrastructure is as currently configured.
3. Assume normal population growth for the next 20 years.
The Clean Team will conduct research, perform analyses, formulate conclusions, and report results in the manner described in Table 1.
Table 1. Approach to Conduct a Study on the Impact
of Small-Source Energy Production and Plug-In Electric Cars on the Power Grid
and Power Production
|
Step |
Description of Action |
|
1. Meet
with stakeholders to formulate the problem and solicit information |
The
Clean Team will meet periodically with the sponsor to: a.
Define/Refine the problem b.
Select a representative “neighborhood” to study c.
Collect data d.
Maintain projects scope |
|
2. Research
and data collection |
The
Clean Team shall conduct research on existing power production capacity,
relevant weather data (solar), and electric car usage. The
Clean Team shall research electric car battery and battery charging
technology. The
Clean Team shall research all federal, state, and local regulations that
apply to the analysis being conducted |
|
3. Perform
analysis |
The
Clean Team shall analyze the collected research data using proven systems
engineering methodologies. The
Clean Team Shall use the analysis to formulate conclusions and make
recommendations. |
|
4. Present
results |
Upon
completion of the analysis portion of the study, the Clean Team shall present
results in the form of a briefing and a final written report. |
The Clean Team has prepared a scaled-down, 9-week timeline for completing a Study on the Impact of Small-Source Energy Production and Plug-In Electric Cars on the Power Grid and Power Production. The timeline is presented in Table 2. The table identifies the activities required to complete the study successfully and the expected point in the project schedule at which each activity will be completed. A Gantt chart representation of the top-level schedule is also included in Appendix A.
Table 2.
Timeline for Completing the Feasibility Study on the Use of Wind Power and How
to Integrate It into the Existing Power Infrastructure
|
Milestone |
Date |
|
Sponsor
Approval to Proceed (ATP) |
06
Oct 2011 |
|
Revised
Problem Definition / Proposal |
13
Oct 2011 |
|
* |
|
|
Final
Presentation Draft Due |
|
|
Final
Presentation Dry Run |
|
|
*Final
Report / Website Due |
|
|
*Final
Presentation to Faculty |
|
|
*
Graded Milestone |
|
References: