Itron Launches IntelliFLEX to Revolutionize Grid Management

In the rapidly evolving energy sector, the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and the increasing load demands from electric vehicles (EVs) present significant challenges. itron, a leader in energy management solutions, has stepped up to address these issues with the launch of its IntelliFLEX solution. This innovative platform is designed to enhance grid reliability and optimize the integration of DERs, ensuring a resilient and sustainable energy future.



Real-Time Visibility and Control

At the heart of Itron's IntelliFLEX solution is its ability to provide real-time visibility and control over DERs. This capability is crucial for managing the unpredictable load demands from EVs and ensuring grid reliability. Nick Tumilowicz, the Director of Products for Distributed Energy Management at Itron, emphasized the importance of energy forecasting, stating, "We focus on energy forecasting, which we’ve been doing for 30 years. We really focus these days on distribution level forecasting to look at EV fleet impacts." This real-time data allows utilities to proactively manage the grid rather than reactively, ensuring that the increasing load from EVs and other DERs is handled efficiently.

Distributed Intelligence at the Edge

One of the key features of IntelliFLEX is its use of distributed intelligence at the edge of the grid. This involves hundreds of thousands of distributed intelligence (DI) devices, or smart meters, that have embedded DER gateways. These devices can communicate with various energy resources, including EVs, EV chargers, thermostats, solar panels, and batteries. This distributed intelligence helps in managing the load at the edge, reducing the strain on the central grid and enhancing overall grid efficiency.

Proactive Planning and Forecasting

IntelliFLEX encourages proactive planning with forecasting, DER management, and control. This visibility allows utilities to see the wave of DERs coming online and be more proactive rather than reactive. As Tumilowicz noted, "So that’s the visibility to see the wave of DERs coming online. So that way we can be more proactive rather than reactive when we’re needing to support customer choice, like the adoption of an EV." This proactive approach is essential for managing the increasing load demands from EVs and ensuring grid reliability.

Leveraging Existing Infrastructure

Itron's approach to leveraging existing infrastructure is another key aspect of its IntelliFLEX solution. By using distributed intelligence and the embedded DER gateway in existing meters, utilities can manage devices at the edge, keeping in mind customer comfort and choice. This approach is cost-effective and efficient, as it utilizes the investment already made in meters and telemetry networks. As Tumilowicz stated, "We already have all these meters deployed, all of this telemetry with the networks deployed. Use that investment, leverage that embedded DER gateway, and start managing those devices at the edge, keeping in mind customer comfort, customer choice, and making a connection back to the grid operators and the grid planners so we can most cost-effectively build out in the future."

Collaboration Across Utility Departments

IntelliFLEX fosters collaboration across utility departments, ensuring that grid planning, grid operations, and program administration work in concert. This collaboration is essential for designing, building, and incentivizing end customers through programs. As Tumilowicz noted, "One thing to note first is that you have utilities, and there’s like many, many departments and factions and schools of thought within. So being able to work in concert with not just the grid planning department, but the grid operators themselves, but also it’s the program administrators being able to have companies like ITRON design, build, and then incentivize and motivate the end customers through programs."

Customer Engagement and Incentive Programs

IntelliFLEX innovates customer engagement through incentive programs. For example, a $20 bill on bill credit is automatically given if meters verify that customers charge their EVs during off-peak hours. This incentivizes customers to participate in demand response programs, helping to manage the load on the grid. As Tumilowicz stated, "And we’ll talk about a $20 bill on bill credit that you automatically get if your meters verify that you charge your EV during off-peak hours."

Economic Dispatch and Non-Wires Alternatives

IntelliFLEX integrates grid edge intelligence to deliver a wide range of DER-based grid services, including economic dispatch and non-wires alternatives. These services help in optimizing the use of DERs and reducing the need for traditional grid infrastructure upgrades. As highlighted, "Itron’s IntelliFLEX suite of solutions brings together the industry’s broadest ecosystem of flexible loads—from load control switches and smart thermostats to batteries and EVs and integrates grid edge intelligence to deliver a wide range of DER-based grid services, including economic dispatch, non-wires alternatives, local grid balancing and decarbonization."

Local Grid Balancing and Decarbonization

The solution also focuses on local grid balancing and decarbonization, which are essential for maintaining grid stability and reducing carbon emissions. This is validated by: "Itron’s IntelliFLEX suite of solutions brings together the industry’s broadest ecosystem of flexible loads—from load control switches and smart thermostats to batteries and EVs and integrates grid edge intelligence to deliver a wide range of DER-based grid services, including economic dispatch, non-wires alternatives, local grid balancing and decarbonization."

Conclusion

Itron's IntelliFLEX solution represents a significant step forward in the management of DERs and the integration of EVs into the grid. By providing real-time visibility, control, and optimization of DERs, leveraging existing infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across utility departments, IntelliFLEX enhances grid reliability and ensures a sustainable energy future. As the energy sector continues to evolve, solutions like IntelliFLEX will be crucial in navigating the challenges posed by the increasing load demands from EVs and the integration of DERs.

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