Smart Grid Training Paths

NWTC will be offering Smart Grid training along two paths.

First will be the on-line certificate courses taken for college credit.  These instructor-led courses will be offered following the NWTC academic calendar. 

Second will be the professional training workshops, executive seminars, and training in the Smart Grid Training Lab.  These one, three, or five day courses can be held at your facilities or at NWTC.  Topics can be accelerated versions of the on-line certificate courses, customer courses covering several topics, or high level overviews targeted at management teams.  The bottom line is that these are custom courses developed to fit your specific needs. The Training Lab learning will occur primarily through specific technology exercises with the Smart Grid devices that make up the Lab.

We've added two new courses:
     Smart Grid: Sustainability, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Protection, and
     Smart Grid Impact on the Organizational Structure of Energy Providers

Smart Grid Workforce Training Laboratory

We've awarded contracts to the 'trailer' developer (Hampden Engineering) and the substation relay trainer (System Controls).

Because of budget constraints we've decided to acquire the training devices in two phases.  Phase one will include the relay trainer which will train on enhanced reliability, self healing grid, distribution automation and distribution management systems.  In addition we'll be able to train on distributed generation, including renewable energy, interconnection, Microgrids, Smart Meter training, demand response, and consumer participation in the energy markets (selling energy or load reduction).  This training capability will be available this November.

Phase two will commence when we have secured additional funds.  Phase two will include a distribution automation/distribution management system trainer, a Volt/VAR trainer, a HAN trainer, electric vehicle charging, deeper training on the smart meeter including meter data management systems, deeper training on distribution automation, and a trainer for introduction to the power grid and demand response.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: Courses Available – Part 2

The first two courses will be available for enrollment this fall.

We plan on delivering them both as online courses and as one week face to face workshops.

The table below shows the tentative dates and locations:

Course	Credits	Delivery Method	Location	Start Date	End Date	Prerequisites	Cost
Introduction to Electric Utilities	1	Online	Anywhere	Monday, October 8, 2012	Friday, November 16, 2012	None	$134.93 + textbook
Overview of the Smart Grid	2	Online	Anywhere	Monday, October 15, 2012	Friday, December 15, 2012	Experience working with electric utilities, concurrent registration, or prior completion of the "Introduction to Electric Utilities Course"	$269.87
Introduction to Electric Utilities	1	Workshop - Face to Face	NWTC, Green Bay, WI	Monday, November 5, 2012*	Friday, November 9, 2012*	None	TBD
Overview of the Smart Grid	2	Workshop - Face to Face	NWTC, Green Bay, WI	Monday, December 3, 2012*	Friday, December 7, 2012*	Experience working with electric utilities, or prior completion of the "Introduction to Electric Utilities Course"	TBD

* These are tentative dates

We don’t have the functionality yet in place to register for these courses.  If interested in taking one or both of these courses please call Jeff DeLaune at (920) 498-6841 or email Jeffrey.DeLaune@nwtc.edu .

The course descriptions are:

10-468-121 – Introduction to Electric Utilities:

This course describes the different types of utilities, utility history and utility business structure, examines how electricity is produced and delivered to customers, discusses the types of electricity generators and their operating characteristics, and provides an overview of utility technical and business operations. Topics include regulatory oversight and customer service.

10-468-122 – Overview of the Smart Grid:

This course introduces the concept of the Smart Grid, its driving forces, applications, and features. Topics include the fundamentals of a “smart” utility grid, the improved opportunity to connect distributed generation and renewable energy sources to the grid, electric vehicle charging, and consumer issues such as the new opportunities for customers to control their energy loads and increase their ability to manage their electric and natural gas bills, and consumer privacy concerns.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: Courses Available

We plan to offer the first two Smart Grid Courses beginning in October.  These are

·         Introduction to Electric Utilities, and

·         Overview of the Smart Grid

More courses will be available in the spring.

We plan on beginning course enrollment at the end of September.

We’ll soon have a website that provides all the program details.

We’ve had to change our initial strategy of having all courses worth one-credit.  Some courses have topics that involve more training than can be fit in a one-credit course.  The 24 courses now will vary from one to three credits.

We’ve also established three separate certificate focus areas:

·         Smart Grid Operations

·         Smart Grid Consumer Focus, and

·         Smart Grid General Studies

Example Lesson Plans Utilizing the Utility Relay Trainer

Here are several training lessons we'll use to teach Overcurrent Protection Basics

Objective 1: Understand basic feeder overcurrent protection.  Create relay settings for a distribution feeder relay.  Test distribution feeder relays against the relays settings utilizing a relay test set.

Objective 2: Understand coordination of feeder overcurrent protection.  Using a team environment, create an overcurrent protection scheme utilizing three feeder relays (simulating one feeder relay and two downstream relays).  Apply the relay settings to each relay and test each relay.  Connect the relays to the distribution simulator and simulate faults between each of the interrupting devices.

Objective 3: Understand how to download metering and fault data from smart meters and microprocessor based relays.  Utilizing the feeder overcurrent protection scheme simulate fault between each of the interrupting devices.  Download fault and metering data from each of the relays and meters.  Utilizing vendor software plot the relay fault data.

Objective 4: Understand IED communication.  Configure communication processors to interrogate relays and meters to obtain switch (breaker, recloser) position, voltages, currents, and fault information.  Utilizing the feeder overcurrent protection scheme, simulate fault between each of the interrupting devices.  Verify that the communication processor collects appropriate data from relays and meters.

Objective 5: Understand how a distribution automation system can be configured using relays, interrupting devices, meters and communication processors to enhance system reliability and availability.  Utilizing the system created in earlier lessons connect communication processors to allow the sharing of information between devices.  Program the communication processors to determine the location of faults.  Isolate those faults and re-establish power to those segments not containing faults.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: Utility Relay Trainer

At the heart of enhanced reliability, self-healing grids, improved power quality, and improved system protection is the utility relay device.  Located often at substations, and connected to the electric grid by current transformers and power transformers, utility relay devices provide a substantial amount of intelligence behind the smart grid.  These electronic devices take measurements and make decisions, or send the information to a utility’s systems control room through remote terminal units (RTU’s).  They can operate automatically or by command.

NWTC’s Mobile Smart Grid Training Lab contains a utility relay training device with six workstations.  The integrated system will provide an environment for learners to understand the components used to develop a smart grid. The relay trainer is designed around the concept of distribution automation. The system will utilize smart metering, protection systems, fault locating algorithms, testing equipment, communication systems and supervisory control (SCADA) to provide the learners with a complete understanding of typical utility systems.

Each workstation has a relay panel (relays, smart meters and communication processors) that provides learners with typical utility equipment that they can configure, test and analyze, enforcing concepts presented to them in utility technical classes. Existing readily available equipment (intelligent electrical devices, IEDs) will be utilized. The relay panels will be connected to a distribution system condition simulator that will be used to simulate distribution system conditions including voltages, currents and switching devices (switches, reclosers and breakers).

The focus of the relay training is to provide an environment to develop and prove the concept of automated isolation and restoration of a distribution system after experiencing a simulated real world fault.  The distribution simulator can also be used to simulate voltage control devices such as capacitor banks or voltage regulators.

The device is targeted at training existing utility transmission and distribution employees, utility contractors, students, and others as needed. The specific components will provide the learners with the skills necessary to succeed in the utility industry.  Integration of these systems will help learners improve their technical skills, interpersonal communication skills, troubleshooting skills and understanding overall utility systems.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: Descriptions of the First Two Smart Grid Courses

Below is a brief description of the first two Smart Grid courses we expect to offer in the fall.

The first course ‘Introduction to Electric Utilities’ is an overview of the electric utility industry for people who don’t have utility experience.  It isn’t necessary for everyone to take the course.  For people that have a good, solid understanding of how electric utilities operate and how they’re regulated there’s no need to take this course:

“This course introduces students to the different types of utilities, provides an overview of utility business structure, gives an overview of utility history, describes how electricity is produced and delivered to customers, discusses the types of electricity generators and their operating characteristics, and provides an overview of utility technical and business operations. Topics will also include utility oversight and regulation, and customer service.”

The second course ‘Overview of the Smart Grid’ is meant for everyone to take:

This course introduces students to the concept of the Smart Grid, the driving forces behind it, its applications, and the features it allows for and provides.  Topics will include basic information on distribution automation and a “smart” utility grid, the improved opportunity to connect distributed generation and renewable energy sources to the grid, electric vehicle charging, and the new opportunities for customers to control their energy loads and manage their electric and natural gas bills to a much greater extent than they can today. The course will also cover workforce development issues.

Subsequent courses will go into more detail on the topics introduced in these first two courses.

Driving Utilities to Change: Part 1

There is a lot of talk about how utilities will need to change to meet a new market reality.  Utilities certainly will change, they always have, but the change may be much slower than expected, and may be more reactive rather than proactive.

Utilities are enormous inwardly focused enterprises. Change does happen, but it’s not part of a utility’s culture.  What’s core to their culture is steady state operations – managing costs and improving performance of their assets.  That’s what utilities do, all day, every day, day in and day out. In fact they’re rewarded for doing this.

Why is change not part of their culture? It comes down to the lack of competition.  Utilities, unlike other industries, haven’t faced a “technology imperative”.  Most industries produce products that must compete in the marketplace by being either lower cost or have added features.  The technology sold or the technology behind the service must change for the company to compete and stay in business (the technology imperative).  This creates a corporate culture around innovation and change. Utilities haven’t had to face competition so haven’t had to outwardly change. 

The utility enterprise will always be about keeping the lights on and the costs down.   So if change doesn’t come from normal internal operations, what’s going to drive a utility to change?

Smart Grid Workforce Training: NWTC Smart Grid Certificate Course List

The goal of the NWTC Smart Grid Certificate program is to eventually have 23 courses available covering 23 smart grid topics.  The topics and courses are:

1.    Introduction to Electric Utilities

2.    Overview of the Smart Grid

3.    Utility Regulation and Management

4.    Deploying the Smart Grid

5.    Smart Grid Impacts on Utility Rates

6.    Smart Grid Enhanced Reliability and Power Quality

7.    Smart Grid Enhanced Distribution System Protection

8.    Smart Substations

9.    Demand Response/Smart Appliances and Thermostats

10.  Smart Grid Privacy Concerns

11.  Customer Smart Grid Education

12.  Smart Distributed Generation

13.  Smart Energy Storage

14.  Distribution Management Systems and Microgrids

15.  Smart Grid Communications and Cyber-security

16.  The Smart Meter

17.  Analytics: Analyzing Customer Data

18.  Building Energy Management Systems/Home Area Networks

19.  Smart Energy Management - Homes

20.  Smart Energy Management - Commercial Businesses

21.  Electric Vehicle Charging

22.  Energy Markets

23.  Smart Grid Standards

Smart Grid Experts

The world is full of smart grid experts.  Often it seems experts fall into one of two camps – one camp’s knowledge base is a foot wide and a mile deep and the second’s knowledge base is a mile wide and a foot deep.

One of our goals is to help develop a third group of experts, ones whose knowledge is 500 feet deep across a broad spectrum of smart grid topics.  Simply put the smart grid courses we plan to offer can broaden the knowledge base of someone deeply immersed in one smart grid topic or deepen the knowledge base of someone who knows a lot about many things but who may want more information on certain topics.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: GLEEC Provides Electric Industry Training from Production, Through Delivery, to Use

This is a long post.  I want to provide an understanding of all that the Great Lakes Energy Education Center (GLEEC) has to offer.  The GLEEC and NWTC have nine on-campus and one web-based energy-related program that cover the electricity value chain from production through consumption.  No other school offers this breadth of electricity programs.   All of these programs have advisory committees made up of industry professionals.

Utilities Engineering Technology – Associate Degree:

Courses prepare students for employment as utility system engineering technicians, designers, coordinators, planners, and substation relay technicians in the utility industry from power generation through transmission and distribution.

Electric Power Distribution – Technical Diploma:

Courses prepare students to install, maintain, and operate electrical systems to supply electric energy to electric utility customers.

Power Engineer and Boiler Operator – Technical Diploma:

Courses prepares students to manage, operate, and control low and high pressure boilers and auxiliary systems in factories, power plants, and buildings

Energy Management Technology - Associate Degree:

Courses prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed for the field of building energy management

Electricity – Technical Diploma:

Prepares students to install, maintain, and service electrical equipment used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration – Associate Degree:

Courses prepare students to work with the control of air in respect to its heating, cooling, humidity, and cleanliness.  Students will be able to install, service, troubleshoot, and repair HVAC/R systems.

Solar Energy Technician – Associate Degree

Courses prepare students to provide a skilled workforce of technicians who are able to design, install, operate, and maintain solar electric and solar thermal systems for both residential and light commercial applications.

Wind Energy Technology – Associate Degree:

Courses prepare students as installation technicians, quality control technicians, and warranty and commissioning technicians for the installation, operation, and maintenance of wind turbines.

Substation Apprentice Program – Apprentice Program:

Eight weeks of courses spread over four years supplement the on the job training that utility substation technicians receive.

Smart Grid – Certificate Program:

                These web-based courses provide an overview of many smart grid related topics.

Smart Grid Workforce Training: Mobile Smart Grid Training Lab

I’ll talk about the Mobile Smart Grid Training Lab we’re developing. 

The Lab will provide a hands-on learning environment to teach the concepts, features, and operation of the smart grid to incumbent utility workers, students, and trade allies, as well as to serve as a demonstration device to the general public.  It’s an impossible effort to include everything about the smart grid, but we’re trying to include as much as we can.

The Lab is housed in a 53’ converted semi-trailer.   It can be towed to and set up in any location to provide training.  It will operate on either a connection to 240V shore power or its two 10 kW diesel generators.  About 15 to 20 people can train in the Lab at a time.

Examples of the Lab’s training topics include smart grid enhanced reliability, power quality and system protection,  distributed generation, smart meters, demand response,  telecommunications and cyber-security,  electric market participation and microgrids.

The primary audiences are electric utilities and technical (community) colleges in eastern Wisconsin. The Lab can also travel outside the region. It should be ready for use in September 2012.

The Nature of Knowledge

Almost all of the smart grid dialog today talks about the technologies, standards, protocols, processes, and goals regarding the smart grid.  Important and necessary topics to be sure, but there’s a significant component missing to make the conversation complete.  What’s missing is there’s not a lot of dialog concerning how we’re going to get the workforce ready.

Vendors, suppliers and consultants will provide training on the specific details of devices, networks, deployment strategies, and other topics.  But what about the interconnected knowledge needed to make this entire smart grid concept a reality?   How does utility regulation relate to customer education, how does enhanced reliability relate to Demand Response?

Developing broader smart grid training is challenging.  The subject is too new, too young, too dynamic, and too diverse.  This is not like training for most other subjects that have a known body of knowledge – if you want to teach welding you have a set of known processes and materials needed.  If you want to teach economics there is a history and a standard set of markets and market principals.  We don’t have a known body of knowledge for the smart grid.

While we know a lot about what the grid is now and what the smart grid may look like, we don’t know what the end will look like.  A standard project management phrase is ‘do we know what done looks like’.  For individual utilities we could create a project that takes them from today and design and conduct work that leads eventually to a preferred smart grid end-state.  But the next utility may have a different preferred end-state.  What does done look like? Utility A for example may choose to use load-tap changing transformers for voltage support, contract out their communications infrastructure, have their IT department do the analytics work, and contract out their Demand Response work.  While Utility B may use capacitors for voltage support, have their distribution engineering department do the analytics work, and develop the communication backbone and Demand Response programs in-house.  When we have a myriad of potential paths to a specific goal, it’s difficult today to provide any specifics about what the end will look like.

So how do we train people?  With smart grid training we need to cast a wide net.  We need first to provide training on all the major smart grid topics like distribution management systems, smart meters, micro-grids, and building energy management.  Second, we need to train on all the potential paths for getting from narrow subjects like customer education or utility rates to the final smart grid goal of customer adoption of Demand Response.   Mapping out smart grid training will produce a picture similar to the smart grid itself – an overlapping network of nodes with knowledge taking the place of data or control signals.

Smart Grid Workforce Training

Our smart grid activities focus around workforce development.  Our current work is funded by a Department of Energy grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”).  We have two main areas of focus: a web-based Smart Grid Certificate program comprised of 24 courses that teach different aspects of the smart grid, and a Mobile Smart Grid Training Lab that teaches incumbent utility workers and others about smart grid operations in a hands-on environment.  I’ll talk a bit about the Certificate Program in this post.

The Certificate courses are intended to provide a smart grid overview.  Each course will focus on a specific smart grid topic such as reliability and power quality, smart utility rates, or telecommunications and cyber-security.  Courses will involve about 35 to 40 hours of instruction and run for five weeks.  The course schedule will follow NWTC’s calendar so someone could take three smart grid courses over a 15-week semester.  Since the courses are internet-based, they can be taken from anywhere.

The breadth of smart grid topics provides something for everyone involved in the electric industry: utility workers, trade allies, business people, government staff, and students.  Anyone with a high school education, an interest in learning and basic Microsoft Office skills is capable of succeeding in these courses.

The first three courses will be available in the fall of 2012. Nine more courses will be added in the spring of 2013, followed by the final twelve courses in the fall of 2013.  The first three courses are “Introduction to Electric Utilities”, “Overview of the Smart Grid”, and “Smart Grid Financial Analysis”.