DISTRIBUTED UTILITY INTEGRATION TEST (DUIT)
The Distributed Utility Integration Test (DUIT) is the first full-scale, integration test of commercial-grade, utility grid interactive Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in the United States. DERs are small modular generation and storage devices such as fuel cells, microturbines, photovoltaics and batteries that can be integrated into the utility electric system. Used in concert with the grid, DERs can lead to some or all of the following: lower energy bills/cost-of-service, superior service quality, high value energy services, and reduced environmental impacts. DUIT addresses a key technical issue: electrical implications of operating multiple, diverse DERs at high penetration levels within a utility distribution system.
DUIT is the next step in assuring the safe, reliable, and cost-effective inclusion of DER into the electric systems of the future. The goal is to advance the state of the art for DER integration practices and strategies. Other key objectives include a better understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with substantial DER penetration into the electric distribution system and gathering and analyzing data needed to characterize the actual value of DERs to ratepayers and to utilities.
Results and lessons learned from DUIT are expected to accelerate market acceptance of DERs by providing:
a testing ground for observing and measuring interactions between DERs and the electricity distribution system
knowledge needed to eliminate a key technical barrier of DER use as part of the power grid, demonstrating that DERs can operate in concert with grid safety
knowledge needed to quantify key benefits from integrating diverse DERs with utility distribution systems
data regarding viability of DERs connected on the customer side of the meter
Stakeholder Benefits
Consumers
Consumers expect cost-effective electric systems that are safe, reliable, problem-free, and impose little or no damage to the environment. DUIT will enhance consumer confidence in distributed generation and storage technologies by demonstrating a mix of traditional and emerging DER technologies working together, in ways needed to provide the desired benefits.
DER Developers
Participating DER developers will acquire a better understanding of how their products work with the grid and other DERs. Developers will learn the utility perspective and how it affects acceptance of their products. Widely disseminated project information will provide an important opportunity for vendors to demonstrate their product’s performance to a broad audience.
Utilities
Multi-megawatt implementation, testing and demonstration of DERs in an actual utility installation will provide real-world evidence that these technologies can be used as reliable utility resources to reduce cost of service, improve system operation, and to offer value-added services to customers.
Regulatory Agencies
DUIT will provide objective, real-world test conditions of DERs that offer significant value to federal, state and utility regulatory agencies, as they move to adopt standards and regulation for interconnection of DERs with the electric distribution system.
Test Program
A key aspect of DUIT is a thorough test of the feasibility and value of co-location and integration of DERs into the electric distribution system. A number of DERs, both generation and storage devices from multiple vendors, are installed within “electrical proximity” to each other so that a variety of electrical interactions may be observed, and operational implications can be evaluated. Commercial-grade “off-the-shelf” DER systems will be tested. These include
Combustion Turbines
Controls
Engines
Fuel Cells
Inverters
Microturbines
Photovoltaics
Electricity Storage
The collection of DERs will demonstrate the feasibility of remote operations, monitoring and dispatch. Individual DERs will be instrumented to measure interaction with the grid. The gathered data will be analyzed to characterize the impact and actual value of DERs to ratepayers and utilities.
DUIT participation is open to all primary stakeholders, regulators, DER developers and vendors, and utilities. DER vendors, especially, are encouraged to participate as a way to demonstrate the viability of their products.
Test Protocols
Each protocol represents multiple tests across DR devices
Abnormal Conditions
Adjacent Feeder Faults
Anti-Islanding
Capacitor Switching
Cold Load Pick-up
Control Strategies
Fuse Coordination
Network Systems
Intentional Islanding
Power Quality
Reclosing Coordination
Synchronization
Short Circuit Current
Stability
Substation Backfeed
Sectionalizer Test
Voltage Regulations
Anti-islanding tests identified as having highest priority for Phase 1 of the DUIT testing.
Current Testing
Anti-Islanding Test Plan |
Test Description and Sequence |
6.1 |
Basic Islanding Test
Individual Unit Testing |
6.2 |
Islanding with Multiple DRs
Homogeneous Groups
Small Groups
Progressions |
6.3 |
Non-Linear Loads, Anti-islanding Tests
Individual Units |
6.4 |
Islanding with Dynamic Load:Generation Ratios
Individual Units |
6.5 |
Anti-islanding with Rotating Loads
Individual Units |
6.6 |
Harmonic Content due to Anti-islanding Schemes
Individual Units |
6.7 |
Voltage/Frequency Trip Settings
Individual Units
Homogeneous Groups
Small Groups
Progressions |
Test Result
Please allow active content to view these presentations (.ppt)
2004 CEC Results Presentation
Single-Unit Islanding Test Typical Unit Results
Close Out Meeting
DUIT Sponsors and Participants
DUIT is a public-private collaboration among DER technology companies, government agencies and utilities. These organizations are contributing equipment, expertise and financing.
Current sponsors and participants include:
Beacon Power
California Energy Commission
Capstone Turbines
Caterpillar
Consolidated Edison
Cummins Power Generation
Distributed Utility Associates
ENCORP
Endecon Engineering
EPRI
Exelon
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
NREL
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Salt River Project
San Francisco Public Utility Commission
SMA America
Solar Turbines
Texas Public Utility Commission
US Department of Energy
Underwriters Laboratory
Xantrex
ZBB
DUIT seeks to evaluate a diverse group of DER technologies/products. Vendors targeting the DER market are invited to contact the DUIT team regarding participation.
Other Links
California Energy Commision (CEC)
Photos
DUIT Photos
Learn More about DUIT
To inquire about prospective DUIT project participation, technical specifications, test plans, project plans or the DUIT white paper, please contact the DUIT Project Team.
Susan Horgan
DUIT Project Leader
Distributed Utility Associates
Tel: (925) 447-0625
[Send Email]