One of world's most advanced grid control systems quietly switches on

One of the most advanced power-grid control systems in the world has quietly switched on in the northeastern US. Its focus: to reduce risks to electricity supplies and enable the transition to a smarter energy grid.

Late last year, PJM Interconnection — a regional transmission organization (RTO) that handles energy trading and operates high-voltage networks serving more than 58 million people — saw five years of work and $200 million in investment come to fruition with the launch of its Advanced Control Center (AC2) program. The program replaced aging technology with two state-of-the art centers for managing the electricity grid and wholesale power markets.

Why two control centers? The idea is to make sure that grid management and power markets worth $35 billion a year can keep going even if operations at one center were to completely fail. The system makes PJM the only grid operator in North America (and one of just a few worldwide) to have dual primary control centers.

Using the Spectrum Power energy management system from Siemens, the two control centers can operate independently or together as a single, “virtual” facility.

“This is a formidable breakthrough for grid operators worldwide,” said Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Smart Grid Division of the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector.