Recent webinar about how Cummins' Power Integration Center (PIC) combined Xendee's OPERATE tool with their advanced controller to optimize energy management for Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and show up to 65% demand charge cost savings.
Above is a recording of our recent webinar presentation with Cummins, featuring Enrico Della Corna, Systems Engineer at Cummins and our Co-Founder and CTO, Michael Stadler.
During this session, we explored how Cummins' Power Integration Center (PIC) combined Xendee's OPERATE tool with their advanced controller to optimize energy management for Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and show up to 65% demand charge cost savings.
You can also download a .pdf version of the presentation here.
Key Points from the Questions and Answers Segment:
Q: Does the Cummins controller have the capability of islanding the microgrid in the event of a grid power outage or interruption?
A: Yes the controller can respond to any unexpected grid event and transition the system to islanded, this can also be done intentionally if needed.
Q: Does your Microgrid Control system also manage demand/load? And does it meet the requirements of IEEE 2030.7?
A: Yes our control system does manage load demand (load add/shed). IEEE 2030.7 is a design standard and not really a requirement to meet. having said that the voltage regulation and lower level functions are part of our genset and inverter controls and the MGC sits on top of that and we design to IEEE2030.7
Q: How did the system respond to the unexpected utility outage and the load bank crash?
A: If we have an unexpected grid event the MGC will make sure that there is power provided to the entire load. If the connection to Xendee was severed by the outage, the existing fixed rules in the system would be able to ride through the outage until the connection is re-established.
Q: Does Xendee have experience communicating with other vendor microgrid controllers aside from Cummins?
A: Xendee has performed multiple integration projects and has a Linux based interconnection box to communicate with multiple DERs.
Q: Is Xendee going to be part of all Cummins Microgrid installations going forward?
A: Xendee's advanced forecasting and control techniques have been tested and validated with the Cummins Microgrid Control system, ensuring compatibility and delivering the highest value for your microgrid application. Thus, by using Xendee as an add on to the Cummins system, you will capture more revenue.
Q: Can OPERATE dispatch into the market for market participation?
A: Yes, when you design a system in Xendee you can simulate market participation and also use it during the OPERATE stage. It can also consider other revenue streams like EV charging or ISO markets in the load forecasting.
Q: In addition to a Priority 1 goal of stable power, will the system allow for a Priority 2 goal of minimizing emissions?
A: The MGC is committed to stable power as part of the design methodology. However, through the OPERATE tool we can also optimize for emission reduction, cost, resiliency, or a combination of all three.
Q: Does the MGC assign isochronous control to a DER?
A: The MGC uses real-time commands to operate DERs in certain voltage and frequency regulation modes depending on the DER type, DER capability and state of the Microgrid. That can include Isochronous, droop with V/F offsets (different versions of Grid-Forming), or Grid-Following.