Advanced Micro Grid Energy Management Coupled with Integrated Volt/VAR Control for Improved Energy Efficiency, Energy Security, and Power Quality at DoD Installations

This demonstration program focused on methods to reduce peak electric power and electric energy consumption through Conservation Voltage Reduction CVR techniques. The first 2 years of efforts focused on advancing the IVVC technology. The later years of the project focused on building level voltage control, via Electronic Voltage Regulators EVRs. The process of confirming peak power reductions and energy savings from voltage adjustments was tedious and resulted in less than expected savings. The building level voltage control equipment was not financially viable, and the alternative of manual adjustment of existing transformer tap settings was determined to be more cost effective than EVR technology. Additional observations about the migration of most electrical loads toward constant power characteristics also erodes savings potentials.