The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. on Oct. 2 announced it has selected GE Vernova to participate in a Proof-of-Concept implementation of the ERCOT Distribution Awareness Platform (EDAP) as part of ERCOT’s Grid Research, Innovation, and Transformation (GRIT) efforts.
EDAP technology is designed to "talk to" Distributed Energy Resources like small-scale power generation (rooftop solar panels) or energy storage at the distribution or behind-the-customer-meter level to provide real-time enhanced situational awareness to ERCOT’s operations and planning teams.
With over six gigawatts of installed capacity, which can serve over 1.5 million Texas households, DERs offer significant potential to support grid reliability across the ERCOT region, the grid operator said.
“This news represents a milestone in our GRIT efforts,” said Venkat Tirupati, VP of DevOps and Grid Transformation at ERCOT. “Alongside our own grid management expertise, we’ve selected GE Vernova’s GridOS® Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) as part of this POC to deliver a platform capable of transforming how DER data is leveraged.”
GridOS DERMS is a software suite comprised of advanced, modular applications designed to help utilities efficiently support the rapidly increasing integration of DERs.
“We are excited to work with GE Vernova on this groundbreaking project,” said Pablo Vegas, President & CEO of ERCOT. “Their technology and deep commitment to innovation aligns with ERCOT’s mission to strengthen reliability and efficiency while preparing the Texas grid for future challenges.”
“GridOS DERMS will provide the foundation for near real-time visibility of DERs, which is essential for helping ERCOT modernize its grid planning and operations in support of a more intelligent energy future for Texans," said Mahesh Sudhakaran, General Manager of GE Vernova’s Grid Software business.
"EDAP will deliver the tools needed to improve visibility into DERs, strengthen reliability, and ensure the Texas grid evolves to meet growing demand and increased DER penetration," ERCOT said.
The GRIT initiative "will advance research and prototyping of emerging concepts and solutions to deeply understand the implications of rapid grid and technology evolution, positioning ERCOT to lead in the future energy landscape. Visit the GRIT webpages to learn more," it said.
