Technology Integration & Smart Grid

Grid modernization often includes the deployment of smart meters as part of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. Our AMI team has supported over 120 AMI deployments worldwide, including wide-ranging IT systems integration projects across multiple platforms and vendors. Our services range from an initial benefit-cost assessment to strategy and road mapping, procurement services such as RFP development and vendor evaluation, to project support during deployment for technical and non-technical issues.

Quanta Technology has developed a proprietary software platform, the CORE™ System Analyzer, can significantly reduce costs and improve the quality and efficiency of protection studies for sensitivity, coordination, wide-area coordination, and regulatory compliance through automation. The CORE™ System Analyzer utilizes raw data from standard software packages such as CAPE and ASPEN, providing a customizable report that summarizes the issues. Quanta Technology conducts studies on behalf of utilities as a service and we also license the tool to our client partners.

Quanta Technology offers unmatched expertise in the representation and model development of protective devices in a wide range of industry-standard software packages. Our extensive industry experience enables our experts to provide best-practice advice and support in all aspects of protection modeling, including conception, implementation, maintenance, and actual simulation studies. We have created these capabilities in consideration of the greater demands being placed on Protection Engineering departments to meet the technological and regulatory challenges of the future, in an ever-changing power systems industry. The availability and increasing capabilities of software simulations represent significant opportunities to assist engineers in the development and performance evaluation of critical protection devices.

Quanta Technology provides services for the development and implementation of BESS installations, including Design and Engineering support, Product Selection and Specifications, Commissioning and Testing, and Operation, Maintenance and Condition Monitoring. Our experts are actively participating and leading development of industry standards and recommended practices for energy storage systems with IEEE, Cigre, IEC, and local jurisdictions (NERC/FERC/NFPA, etc.). These activities combined with our hand-on experience with some of the largest BESS projects to-date, enables our utility clients to save time, budget, and avoid risks to achieve successful projects.

Emerging technologies can offer an impressive level of control and monitoring detail on the performance and operating characteristic of a power system. Although this represents a significant opportunity for advanced system operation functions, the volume of potential data can pose challenges in its utilization and management. Quanta Technology's industry and technical experts can assist with these efforts, providing practical expertise on the optimal way to utilize and manage the data to achieve customer goals. Our unique approach, combining technical expertise with process and software tool development capabilities offer our customers a complete solution to data management and utilization. 

Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) reside at the core of Grid Modernization strategy as DER impact almost all facets of distribution planning and operations. Quanta Technology has more than a decade of experience supporting utilities navigate this evolution. We have assembled a team of industry experts and thought leaders equipped to help utilities plan, justify, select, and integrate DERMS solutions to be scalable and expandable as integration of DER penetration increases and technology evolves. In addition, our capabilities include not only front-end services but also supporting the implementation, and operations and maintenance of DERMS.

Quanta Technology offers a comprehensive approach in supporting our client partners to address electrification challenges. Utility distribution systems are facing increased challenges related to potential overloads of equipment and circuits, changes in equipment cooling patterns, and constraints in accommodating high-power charging in neighborhoods with legacy distribution infrastructure. Our team of experts can provide detailed, model-based engineering analyses for 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.

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.

The SIMPLE platform offers functionalities required to build various nodes for comprehensive distribution feeder automation and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) control applications.

Quanta Technology offers innovative products and software applications with focus on testing and performance enhancement of grid-edge applications to address a wide range of technological challenges for system integration and project success, and to mitigate gaps in existing grid-edge tools and solutions. These products consist of testing devices, software platforms, and behind-the-meter innovative battery energy storage systems. The Quanta Technology Grid Edge products includes: BESSTI™ - Battery Energy Storage Testers, The EVMT™ - EV Sub-metering Tester, Mobile Energy Storage System (MBESS™), and Site Controller and DER Aggregator.

Quanta Technology supports utilities with the development of telecommunications strategies and plans as part of grid modernization programs. Our capabilities include establishing and developing requirements for the grid-edge as well as wide area networks.

Quanta Technology experts have helped utilities and developers perform technical studies and real-time testing for proof-of-concept projects and implementation of functional specifications and control requirements in several microgrid and advanced automation applications. Our testing capabilities include an RTDS for digital controls and protection, power level and performance evaluation for solar PV, energy storage, and wind inverters, smart inverter testing, and EV charger testing.

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 solutions to detailed technical aspects such as system interaction and protection.

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 on-board controller that provides comprehensive sets of autonomous controls, optimization schemes, and supervisory capability for ease of remote operator access and integration back to the Dispatch Center for overall grid coordination.​

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 proprietary tools that are applied at both transmission and distribution level according to the following process framework: Develop forecast scenarios, benchmark conventional grid investment alternatives, analyze the costs and value of applied DER on an hourly basis, and perform benefit-cost and risk analyses. Our processes and tools employ transparent models, allow for evaluation of different concepts and approaches, incorporate automation and computation efficiency, and work seamlessly with other utility planning tools.

To support the deployment and operation of advanced emerging technologies, utilities and developers have adopted new processes, tools, and data assets. The effective integration of these new elements with existing assets has been a challenge to the power system industry. Quanta Technology offers industry-proven expertise in the review, conception, implementation, and support of integration efforts through a combination of our technical expertise and unique tools to enable alignment of both existing and newly adopted processes and data assets.

Quanta Technology has completed numerous projects with utilities involving the practical application of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to solve critical issues. Examples include large scale synchrophasor system deployments, advanced R&D projects, roadmap development, development of remedial action schemes (RAS), and specialized applications for transmission and distribution such as detection of downed conductors, PMU engineering applications, and other topics. Quanta Technology can assist in all aspects of the project including System Design and Technical Specification, Deployment Planning, Procurement Support, Implementation Support and System Expansion Support. Quanta Technology can utilize an RTDS for architecture and scheme validation using system simulations.

The integration of energy storage systems (ESS) with new or existing solar PV plants has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the significant benefits as an alternative to gas-fired peaking plants and other applications.  In order to receive, the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar, a BESS must be charged solely from the PV system.  Quanta Technology has developed a data driven approach using best-in-class tools that have been developed specifically to optimize the ratings and DC/AC topology.

Distributed energy resources (DER) offer the promise of an alternative to conventional utility investments such as new lines, substations, and transformer upgrades. Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) represent both investments and operating practices by electric utilities to defer or avoid traditional transmission or distribution solutions and may include energy efficiency, demand response, and DERs (including storage). NWAs can be evaluated according to multiple metrics including cost, use cases, dispatchability, and environmental implications. Modern grid planning tools and processes are starting to incorporate NWAs.