The SCTE/ISBE has created a Microgrid Working Group within the ANSI-accredited SCTE/ISBE Standards Program. The project will be conducted within the Energy Management Subcommittee and in conjunction with the SCTE/ISBE Energy 2020 program.
The working group's charter is to define operational practices and standards for microgrids; to facilitate communication among service providers, industry partners, and other standards organizations; to educate the community on the applicability and use of microgrid technology in cable operator facilities; to demonstrate that the technology is deployable and manageable for service providers; and to create a library of microgrid use cases showing how proper application of microgrids can improve resiliency, reduce operational costs, and accelerate deployment.
The Microgrid Working Group is being chaired by Tim Martinson, vice president of EMerge Alliance, an association developing standards for DC power distribution in commercial structures. The vice chairman is David Geary, PE, senior principal electrical engineer with Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA).
"While much of the industry's focus in recent years has been on reducing power costs and consumption, sustainability and the ability to maintain operations in the face of grid power interruptions are topics that are key to operators' businesses," said Martinson. "Microgrids can contribute new solutions in three key areas that have been raised during the Energy 2020 meetings - energy cost, energy availability, and the seamless ability to incorporate renewable technologies into the power portfolio."
"As we've shown with our own projects at SCTE/ISBE headquarters, photovoltaic systems, fuel cells, storage batteries, and other sources can maintain essential powering when the utility grid is unavailable," said Derek DiGiacomo, senior director, energy programs and business continuity for the SCTE/ISBE. "The expertise of the Microgrid Working Group will jumpstart the ability of the Energy Management Subcommittee to provide the industry with standards and operational practices related to hardened availability and renewability of power supplies."
In related SCTE news, the Society has approved SCTE 253 2019, "Cable Technical Facility Climate Optimization, Operational Practice: Understanding Set Point Values, Part 1." The document covers the operation of cooling systems and the proper selection of cooling set points for critical facilities in broadband communications systems. The facilities covered are defined as cable operator classes B, C, and D (commonly referred to as hubs and headends) in SCTE 226.