Smart energy Envision Center
Demonstrating the possibilities of the consumer-to-grid connection
Smart grid technology is redefining how the utility of the future will interact with customers. Ultimately, customers will be connected to the grid in new, more dynamic ways. When fully implemented, the smart grid will better enable customers to make sustainable energy use choices and manage their utility costs—all while supporting a more reliable distribution system and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The question today is how will customers respond to the emerging smart grid? How quickly will they adopt smart grid enabled home energy technologies? Will they open their homes to new smart energy offerings? Do they see the personal benefits and value of a smart grid?
Utility customer education key to realizing a smart grid enabled energy future
KEMA has partnered with Duke Energy in creating The Duke Energy Envision Center. As one of the first interactive exhibits to demonstrate smart grid, renewable and energy efficient technologies, the center offers utility customers, key industry stakeholders, and regulatory and policy decision-makers an opportunity to experience how a modernized smart grid works and what it means for them.
The demonstrations show how energy efficiency can be automatic and how seamless the transition for customer adoption can be. The center also promotes the importance of renewable power to meet the clean energy needs of tomorrow and helps outline how customers can play an important role in helping reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Located in Erlanger, Kentucky, the center features a movie-style studio with sets consisting of a substation with two-way, digital technology, a “smart” home – complete with solar panels and a plug-in hybrid vehicle, an apartment complex with “smart meters,” and a power delivery work center – monitoring conditions with real-time data. Utility poles equipped with “intelligent” power equipment are also staged throughout.
Simulating customer-to-grid connections of the future to propel today’s strategies
Demonstrations illustrate how power flows from generation units to substations, and moves to neighborhoods through distribution power lines. In the scenario, smart energy technologies enable the utility to closely monitor the health of the power delivery system, better manage voltage levels, and restore service faster in the event of power outages.
The facility incorporates a mix of video presentations and simulations such as a thunderstorm, lightning strike and power outage, to show how utilities will be able to more effectively pinpoint outages and restore power more quickly.
Smart home simulations feature the use of an energy-management system to control high efficiency appliances (e.g., dishwasher, water heater, air conditioning equipment), lighting, and a plug-in electric vehicle.
Tour the Duke Envision Center
KEMA and Duke Energy designed the Envision Center to help visualize and build the business case for the smart grid future.
Utility executives, utility customers, government and regulatory officials and other stakeholders worldwide are invited to tour the center for a hands-on experience of the emerging smart energy future. Each tour is a unique experience and crafted to meet specific expectations.