Distribution
Planning

Quanta Technology offers a comprehensive approach in supporting our client partners to address electrification challenges. Our team of experts can provide detailed, model-based engineering analyses which yield plans that are technically robust, yet pragmatic. Our technical foundation is coupled with commercial and business expertise enabling Quanta Technology to perform services such as business case development, road mapping and strategy and benefit-cost analyses. For implementation of EV devices, we offer performing testing services.

Quanta Technology has experience leading several utility communications projects. These projects included supporting, executing, evaluating, and consulting for various types of communications requirements. The communications are associated with deploying distribution automation schemes, enhancing SCADA systems, implementing distributed PMU applications, and managing DERs. Quanta Technology has a team of industry experts and thought leaders ready to help utilities plan, justify, select, and implement various type of communications.

Distribution systems planning is a vital activity for the successful modernization of the grid. Modern distribution planning is expected to become an even more complex activity, largely due to the need to integrate DER and new technologies. Grid Performance Planning is the foundation of a modern distribution plan and it combines forecasts of both loads and DER, including weather normalization, transformer loading, feeder loading, urban re-development, regression models, and spatial land-use models. Quanta Technology has assembled a team of leading experts from the utility industry and developed state of the art tools to deliver a rigorous and comprehensive approach to address modern distribution planning system challenges.

Load forecasting is now part of grid performance planning which is the foundation of a distribution plan. Without a good load forecast, it is likely that unnecessary projects will be funded and needed projects will go unfunded. Our experts have experience in all aspects of load and DER forecasting, including weather normalization, transformer loading, feeder loading, urban redevelopment, regression models, and spatial land-use models. We have helped many utilities in the U.S. and around the world refine forecasts, develop forecasts, and institute improved load forecasting and grid performance.

Quanta Technology has a broad portfolio of services related to the development and implementation of microgrids. Our experience includes supporting utilities with some of the most complex microgrid installations to-date. As a result, we are equipped to address a wide range of questions and challenges, from big picture considerations such as systematic evaluation of microgrid alternatives versus conventional distribution planning solutions to detailed technical aspects of integration such as updating distribution standards and practices and controller functionality.

PROMIS® is a portable energy storage system primarily designed for emergency energy supply to single- and three-phase customers. It is designed for frequent relocation and fast interconnection at a new site using a standard generator terminal box with Cam-lok™ plugs. PROMIS is a clean replacement for emergency (portable) diesel generators. Furthermore, it operates in grid-connected mode for grid support functions. The PROMIS platform is equipped with integrated microgrid technology and an onboard controller that provides comprehensive sets of autonomous controls, optimization schemes, and supervisory capability for ease of remote operator access and integration with the Dispatch Center for overall grid coordination.

Quanta Technology understands the challenges of operating a safe and reliable electric grid, and realizes that due to the proliferation of distributed energy resources, such as solar PV and battery energy storage there may be unintended consequences resulting from the time-varying impacts of these technologies. Using our experience and expertise in this area, we can analyze the grid using computational models to look at steady and transient impacts from all the devices connected to the grid. This includes protection analysis that looks closely at frequency and voltage ride through, assessing the impact of islanding conditions on protection systems and DG operation, evaluating the severity of Temporary Over Voltages (TOV), and studying how sudden connection / disconnection of DG plants affect T&D system operation and protection systems.

Non-Wires Alternatives (NWAs) represent investment alternatives and operating practices to defer or avoid traditional T&D projects, such as installing new wires and transformers and is a key driver for future grid requirements. Quanta Technology experts have been leading the industry charge in NWA through direct collaboration with key utilities and our industry recognized thought leaders. Quanta Technology has developed customized tools that are applied in the following framework: Develop forecast scenarios, benchmark conventional grid investment alternatives, analyze the costs and value of applied DER on an hourly basis, and perform cost-benefit and risk analyses. Our distribution tool incorporates automation and computational efficiency and can be seamlessly incorporated into utility distribution planning processes.

Optimal volt/VAR control is critical for ensuring utility customer power quality and system efficiency. The proliferation of intermittent distributed generation such as photovoltaic and wind introduces new challenges such as rapid voltage fluctuations and reactive power flow variations that need to be studied using computational models and simulation tools. Quanta Technology has extensive experience in this area and can aid utilities to solve these issues via the implementation of modern volt/VAR control schemes and technologies.