Penetanguishene, Ontario. PowerStream, in partnership with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), announced the official launch June 29 of a utility-scale microgrid that has the capacity to provide several hours of backup power supply for approximately 400 customers residing or owning a business in the town of Penetanguishene.
The microgrid also helps reinforce the existing grid by increasing resiliency and operational flexibility.
At the heart of the system is the Microgrid Distributed Energy Resource Automation System (MiDAS), an advanced microgrid controller that can operate autonomously and optimize the way in which power is delivered. It has the flexibility to operate the microgrid either connected to (grid mode) or disconnected from the provincial grid (island mode). This enables PowerStream to provide power to customers even when there is a loss of supply from the Hydro One transmission lines. Located at the end of a long feeder, the town had experienced a number of interruptions.
In addition to providing backup power supply, resiliency and operational efficiency in a safe, secure way, MiDAS can also facilitate the use of renewable power sources to provide a lower carbon footprint and ultimately a cleaner environment.
Installed adjacent to PowerStream’s Robert Street Municipal Substation located east of the town’s Main Street and connected to a distribution powerline, the system consists of a 750 kilowatt Power Conversion System, 500 kilowatt-hours of stationary batteries, a number of automatic switches, voltage regulation devices and other grid automation equipment.
The Penetanguishene Microgrid is being operated from PowerStream’s System Control Centre at the company’s head office in Vaughan and allows for performance monitoring by KEPCO through remote accessibility.
The launch of the Penetanguishene Microgrid also featured PowerStream and KEPCO officials signing a Joint Development Agreement, which will serve as a framework for the two energy companies to offer the MiDAS Solution to other communities and customers.