Trilliant First to Offer integrated Demand Response Solutions
In North America and elsewhere energy markets are being stressed to their limits during peak demand periods, typically during hot summer afternoons and cold winter mornings. With forecasts of continued growth in demand, and an environment that makes it difficult to build power plants and other infrastructure needed to deliver more peak power, it is time to consider alternatives.
As the first AMI vendor to offer integrated Demand Response solutions, Trilliant offers a range of products to enable utility managed DR programs. End point devices include smart thermostats, switches, and in-home display devices. When equipped with Trilliant's two-way mesh radio technology these devices are sensed by the network, and become available for inclusion within verifiable Demand Response applications.
Demand Response is a means to provide peak load capacity through demand management (load control) programs. This approach focuses on curtailment of loads during peak demand times thereby avoiding the requirement to find new sources of generation capacity.
Trilliant Open Standards Demand Response
Trilliant is the only AMI vendor to offer utility customers an integrated demand response solution based on open standards technology. This approach offers many advantages, and saves significant cost by leveraging the same AMI network for both metering applications as well as premise based demand response programs.
Demand Response initiatives may include several in-home devices such as smart thermostats, water heater controls, pool pump controls, and other load limiting devices. The Trilliant Demand Response solution integrates these intelligent devices with energy-aware systems providing both utilities and customers the opportunities to participate in demand management programs with mutual benefits.
Key Features include:
- Direct load control using smart thermostat setback adjustments and load switches
- Consumer configurable price-response automated demand control
- Consumer information and messaging displays
- Verification and measurement integral to network application
- Primary control always maintained by the consumer
"The Trilliant solution for demand response provides Milton Hydro with a means to not only meet regulatory requirements but to enhance our customers' experience," said Don Thome, president and CEO of Milton Hydro Distribution Inc. "This program will provide residential consumers with the information and the means for direct participation in managing our limited energy resources." Read press release.
Benefits
Trilliant's Demand Response solutions are a true win-win for the utility and consumers. The utility benefits by not having to purchase additional energy at peak market rates, or possibly avoid costly investments into new power plants. The consumer wins through reduced overall energy costs and potentially other utility-sponsored incentives simply by shifting time of energy use from peak to non-peak times of the day. Through the use of advanced systems and tools provided by Trilliant this shift can be managed automatically.
Utilities are provided a robust set of tools for managing program participants, developing demand response scenarios and executing curtailments. This end-to-end solution includes measurement and verification directly addressing a core need for these programs. This measurement and verification capability enables utilities to avoid significant costs when compared with other non-AMI integrated solutions.
Consumer Friendly Solutions
The Trilliant Demand Response solution includes several components to be installed in-home at consumer locations. Participation in the program is completely voluntary and can be cancelled at any time. Further, while the smart devices installed in-home include wireless functionality for communicating with the Trilliant AMI network, choice of participation in any specific curtailment event is always optional. Of course, in many cases customers will be unaware that they participated in a curtailment event until after it occurs and savings have been realized!
Once installed, the Trilliant Energy Management System for Consumers can be programmed to respond to energy price changes. For example, a customer can program the system to turn off the electric water heater or adjust the thermostat when the energy rate increases to Peak or Critical Peak over the course of the day. Again, end customers are always in control and can override automatic adjustments for their own comfort.
Once a consumer is empowered with information on their own energy usage, they can make changes to the program to best suit their budget and comfort requirements. Consumers are provided household results using reports online.
What is Provided to the Customer?
The Trilliant Demand Response solution has the potential to incorporate a broad range of devices. These components working together can help customers manage energy usage and, ultimately save money. The major components are broken up into two categories: smart controls and customer information displays. Examples of smart controls are smart thermostats and smart switches. Customer information displays include a secure online Customer Web page, accessible from anywhere via the Internet, or a utility supplied in-home display. |
