HONOLULU, April 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian
Electric Company and Santa Clara-based Varentec, Inc. have
announced a strategic partnership to install and validate
performance of Varentec's technology for ensuring grid reliability
and efficiency while allowing more private rooftop solar systems to
be added to island grids.
Starting with a pilot project on the island of O'ahu, Hawaiian
Electric Company will use Varentec' s Edge of Network Grid
Optimizers™ and Grid Edge Management System™ platform to
minimize voltage fluctuations along the distribution grid and
maintain safe, reliable operations along a neighborhood circuit
with a high level of distributed solar generation.
"Hawai'i continues to lead the nation in the adoption of private
rooftop solar. At Hawaiian Electric, we continue to search for
innovative technologies to lower the cost and increase the speed at
which rooftop solar can be added," said Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric vice president
of energy delivery.
"Varentec offers a mature, grid edge Volt Var Control technology
that can be deployed very quickly to help solve the rooftop solar
integration problem we are facing. Even though Varentec's
technology was not primarily designed for this purpose, our
innovative engineers are eager to test this Volt Var Control
technology to solve our unique solar challenges."
A key challenge resulting from a large number of rooftop solar
systems feeding excess electricity into a neighborhood circuit is
increased voltage instability for all customers, with or without
rooftop solar. Higher than allowed voltage can trip off rooftop
solar systems, damage home appliances, and could endanger utility
crews working on the grid. Hawaiian Electric and Varentec believe
the unique capabilities of Varentec's system-level, dynamic-control
technology can address voltage issues at a lower cost to customers
than other alternatives considered.
"We are excited to move forward with this partnership and
further demonstrate the benefits of our technology for high
penetration solar circuits in Hawai'i, which leads the nation with
the highest levels of rooftop solar," said Guillaume Dufosse, Varentec CEO.
"Working with Hawaiian Electric has shown their reputation for
innovation is well deserved. While primarily focusing on
solving immediate solar penetration challenges, we will further
analyze innovative uses of Varentec's technology such as voltage
control for energy conservation and peak demand reduction in the
context of the Hawaiian Electric network."
About Hawaiian Electric
Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawai'i
Electric Light, serve the islands of O'ahu, Maui, Lāna'i, Moloka'i and Hawai'i, home to 95
percent of the population of the State of Hawai'i. Hawaiian
Electric's parent company is Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE:
HE). In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are
taking the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy
solutions for their customers to achieve a clean energy future for
Hawai'i. For more information, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.
About Varentec
Varentec provides innovative solutions for the nascent
generation of distributed grid control. It is funded by
Bill Gates, 3M, and Khosla Ventures
and has received support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The
Varentec GEMS™ software platform, coupled
with ENGO™ power electronic devices
deployed on the low voltage side of the distribution grid, controls
voltage and reactive power in real time and eradicates grid edge
voltage volatility, even when high numbers of distributed PV solar
systems are deployed on a circuit.
Varentec's technology provides a turnkey, stand-alone solution
to Distribution Utilities. In deployments across the U.S. and
Canada, Varentec's technology is
providing advanced grid edge Volt Var Control, and has achieved
unparalleled 24/7/365 energy savings of 5% or more, during peak
times or day-to-day operations, while significantly reducing
technical losses.
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SOURCE Varentec, Inc.