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Bulletin #10 – Sandia Report INEL Batteries

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UFTO Bulletin #10

July 27, 1995

To: UFTO Subscribers:

. . in this issue: . . . . . . . . .

Sandia Report INEL Batteries

  1. The final UFTO report for SANDIA NATIONAL LABS is enclosed. Make certain your industrial marketing people take a good look at it, along with everybody else. There’s tremendous expertise here in robotics, reliability, processes, manufacturing, renewables, etc. etc.(Here’s a mischievous thought — do reps ever call on their own utility, and treat it like any other major customer? Just think of all the process, materials, etc. knowledge they have that a utility’s operations could benefit from.)
  2. The latest on Idaho National Engineering Lab (INEL)…….
    – I’ll be visiting there on August 21 and 22, for the full UFTO treatment.
    – A bit more detail about the Intelligent Distribution Management System (IDMS) is attached. (I’d been calling it IDS.) The people at INEL say they’ve built a next-generation SCADA system that is way ahead of anything currently available. You and your company’s experts will be the judge. Don’t hesitate to call them up and get started. They have a full system in operation, and will be taking it apart in October to do the actual installation, scheduled to take until March 1996. So, you might get a better show-and-tell in September, though no doubt they’ll be able to demonstrate the functionality in later months.
  3. I went to the Utility Battery Group (UBG ) meeting and the 5th International Conf. on Batteries for Utility Storage. Just half of the UFTO utilities are active in the UBG, tracking developments closely.
    What are the rest of you doing in this area? So much of the attention to batteries is focused on EVs that potentially significant developments in power quality, UPS, and T&D system enhancement can get overlooked. (One factor–too often “power quality” people don’t talk to “storage” people.) Vendors are taking orders for all kinds of systems, and more are in development.Let me know if you want info from the conferences, and we’ll try to arrange something. One bit of information you may want to have– the UBG is going to incorporate. They’re establishing a new membership policy, and they’re gearing up to deliver some informational products. Utilities can join for $1,000 .

    The Sandia report discusses the DOE utility battery program (see page 4).

  4. Reminder: DOE’s Annual Peer Review of the Superconductivity Program for Electric Systems Alexandria VA, August 1,2.

Also, Sandia is hosting a Joint US/Russian workshop on Fuel Cells, Sept 26-28. Let me know if you didn’t get a copy of the announcement, and if you want me to attend on your behalf (as part of UFTO, or separately).

EdB

Bulletin #9 – Intelligent Distribution Geomagnetic storms Superconductivity

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UFTO Bulletin #9
July 13, 1995

To: UFTO Subscribers:

. . in this issue: . . . . . . . . .

Intelligent Distribution Geomagnetic storms Superconductivity

 

1. Update on the new connection at Idaho National Engineering Lab(INEL)…….

– I’ve waited sending this to include a more detailed description of the”Intelligent Distribution System” but INEL hasn’t gotten it to me yet. I’ll send it on to you Friday if it arrives. On the surface, the “IDS” looks like a perfect match for your company’s strategic goals, so be sure to alert the appropriate people in your company.

– INEL is probably not going to do the big “Utility Day” mentioned previously. Instead, they’d welcome visits by any of us individually or in groups (which is even better for us). I will plan my official UFTO visit for sometime in August. Maybe you’d like to join me there after I’ve spent a day with them, or arrange for a visit some other time, once I get you more information.

2. Changing Faces: Just after I sent you the list of lab contacts, I learned that David South is no longer at Argonne. He left to join a consulting firm in DC with Jack Siegel, former head of DOE Fossil. Until we reestablish contact with that part of ANL, we can continue to work through Tom Marciniak.

3. DOE’s Annual Peer Review of the Superconductivity Program of Electric Systems will be held August 1-2 at the Holdiay Inn, Alexandria VA. Contact Craig Matzdorf, Energetics, Inc., 410-290-0370. The program will cover national lab and major private industry programs and detailed project updates from the Superconductivity Partnership Initiative. Looks like a good way to get the whole story at once! I have a copy of the agenda if they can’t get it to you immediately.

– (Are you getting the Superconductivity Bulletin? I sent them your name and address. Contact is Margaret Hanley at Argonne National Lab, Email: mmhanley@anl.gov.)

4. Any interest in geomagnetic storms, solar flares, and that whole business of induced EM pulses raising havoc with T&D systems? An episode in 1989 blacked out the entire Hydro Quebec system. Sandia has done some work in what they call “Space Weather Modeling” (I have a copy of a report and a contact name). Also, Oak Ridge has an ongoing monitoring project. Let me know if someone in your company wants to follow up.

– (BTW–Sandia is reviewing my draft report, so it should be ready before the end of July)

5. I will be travelling July 16-21 to the UBG meeting and the 5th International Conf. on Batteries for Utility Storage. A UFTO member utility is sending me to represent them and to take detailed notes. If you want to cofund this fact finding mission and share in the results (as this is outside the scope of UFTO), let me know.

The hotel tel # 800-468-2818 or 809-791-1000 if you want to reach me.

6. The time is rapidly approaching to decide about Year #2 of UFTO. A letter and proposal went in the mail to you this week. We have one confirmed renewal already! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help your decision process.

EdB

Bulletin #8 – LBL Report Utility Needs INEL

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UFTO Bulletin #8

June 15, 1995

To: UFTO Subscribers:

. . in this issue: . . . . . . . . .

LBL Report Utility Needs INEL

 

1. Enclosed — the final report for Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL)…. note the special core competencies in Energy Analysis, Buildings, Lighting, etc. and the special situation of the CIEE.PLEASE don’t put it in your “to-read” pile…..Look it over and make copies and route it in your company now.

2. I sent our UFTO “Technology Needs of Utilities” document to ten labs last week. We’re already getting some responses. A copy is enclosed for you, along with the cover letter and the distribution list….these are our key contacts in the labs. Go ahead and call them at any time you feel the urge.

3. There’s a whole new situation at Idaho National Engineering Lab(INEL). Thanks to a referral by Graham Siegel, I got a call from Tom Sauerbrun, their new Utility Program Manager. As you may recall, INEL’s management contract was awarded last year to a new team headed by Lockheed (now Lockheed Marietta), with a daring new performance based compensation scheme, especially heavy on tech transfer and commercialization.

INEL has some very exciting new technology for the utility industry that they’ve kept very quiet, and we’re getting an early look. Official announcements are due in a few weeks.

Specifically, they say they have a complete and tested “Intelligent Distribution System”, ready for prime time (i.e., spinoff from the lab of a fully operational commercial team).. It’s been developed in-house, and implemented on the Lab’s own extensive power system, where it will be demonstrated. It’s an advanced software system that can integrate many different commercial technologies that are already available. If INEL has it right, this sounds a lot like what many of you are looking for — advanced distribution control technology, and a way to make it into a major new business opportunity. Let me know if you can’t wait for their announcement and want to make contact immediately.

We’re also the first to be notified of their planned invitation-only “Utility Day”, to take place in August or September. Details to follow.

Any objections if I do INEL now as part of the 94-95 program, in place of a DOD lab?

BTW (that’s “by the way”, in I-way lingo) – Livermore tells me there’s tremendous interest in Capacitive Deionization (see UFTO Update 1/95) — vendors taking licenses for all kinds of applications, and even a major utility has come to have a look–not one of us, sorry to say. Isn’t the idea of a neat little electric water softener intriguing? Not to mention desalination. You could do a joint venture with one of the licensees, e.g. a water treatment company.

PS: Have a look at the enclosed brochure for the UBG meeting (July 17 — preceding the 5th International Conf. on Batteries for Utility Storage, July 18-21). Looks like a good place to learn what’s happening. If you don’t have anyone going, my offer to attend on your behalf still stands.