The document describes the Fort Collins (net) Zero Energy District (FortZED) project. FortZED aims to create a regional energy district in Fort Collins, Colorado that generates as much renewable energy as it consumes. The project involves partnerships between Fort Collins Utilities, Colorado State University, and other organizations to integrate distributed energy resources like solar PV, energy storage, and demand management. The goals are to manage peak loads and intermittent renewable energy, as well as control the import and export of power from the distribution system.

1. FortZED
The Fort Collins (net) Zero Energy District
Dr. Sunil Cherian
CEO, Spirae, Inc.
Ineov - 7 June 2011
320 Vine Dr., Suite 307 | Fort Collins, CO 80524 | +1 970.484.8259 | www.spirae.com
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2. Presentation Overview
 Spirae Overview
 Smart Grid Market Trends in the U.S.
 Fort Collins Zero Energy District (FortZED)
 Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) Project
 Conclusion
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3. Spirae Introduction
 Based in Ft. Collins, Colorado
 Established in 2002
 Privately Owned
 Spirae Virtual Development Center in Kochi, India
 Danish subsidiary, Spirae.dk, established in 2010
 Co-Own and Operate InteGrid Laboratory with CSU
Industry initiatives:
 NERC Smart Grid Task Force
 Colorado CleanTech Industry Alliance
 Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster
 Fort Collins Zero Energy District (FortZED)
 Active participation and frequent speaker at Industry events
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4. US Smart Grid Drivers
Clean Energy
(RPS)
Standards, US ARRA
Security, Smart SGIG/SGDG
Innovation
Grid
Grid Upgrades
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5. Types of Smart Grid Projects
Smart Grid projects can be broadly classified into:
 AMI, Demand response, and Customer Information Portals
 Distributed Generation, Renewable Energy, Storage, and EV Integration
 Reliability and Security of Supply
 Distribution Automation
 Regional Energy Districts
 Cyber-security
 Microgrids
 Market Integration
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6. Types of Smart Grid Projects




 Regional Energy Districts  FortZED/RDSI Project



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7. FortZED: Power to the Community
A Public-Private Grassroots Effort
WA
ME
MT ND
OR VT
ID NH
SD MN WI NY MA
W RI
Y MI CT
NE IA PA NJ
NV OH DE
UT IL
CA CO IN MD
KS MO WV VA DC
KY
TN NC
AZ NM OK
AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA
FL

8. The Community
• 60 miles north of Denver
• At the foot of the Rocky Mountains
• 140,000 population
• Home of Colorado State University –
a source of research and development
in clean energy
• Home of the Northern Colorado Clean
Energy Cluster and numerous clean
energy companies

9. Our Current Grid
• Relies mainly on centralized
power generation
• Requires little consumer involvement
• Provides consumers with limited
energy choices
• Responds slowly to power quality issues
• Focuses on protecting assets
following faults
• Is more susceptible to attacks and
natural disasters

10. The FortZED Smart Grid
• Incorporates power and storage from
many distributed sources
• Enhanced communication facilitates
more efficient operation of the electric
distribution system
• Encourages active consumer involvement
• Gives consumers access to more energy choices
• Resolves power quality issues more rapidly
• Focuses on prevention and automatic
problem detection
• Is more resilient to attacks and natural disasters

11. The Partnerships
Key players on the growing FortZED team include:
• Fort Collins Utilities
• Colorado State University
• Advanced Energy
• Brendle Group
• Eaton Corporation
• InteGrid Laboratory
• New Belgium Brewing
• Spirae, Inc.
• Woodward Governor Company

12. FortZED/RDSI – Project Objectives
WA Long Term Project Goal:
ME
OR
ID
MT ND
VT
NH
 Zero Energy District: A Zero Energy District is
MN NY MA
W
Y
SD WI
MI CT
RI one that creates as much thermal and electrical
NV
UT
NE IA
IL
OH
PA NJ
DE
energy locally as it uses.
CA CO IN MD
KS MO WV VA DC
KY
TN NC
AZ OK
NM AR SC DOE-RDSI Project Objectives:
MS AL GA
TX LA  Peak Load Management: Active management of
FL
peak loads on a substation using Distributed
Energy Resources.
 Import/Export Control: Dynamically control
active and reactive power exchange at
interconnection points using DER.
 Intermittency Management: Balance
intermittent renewable production with
demand management, conventional generation,
and fast-acting loads/generation.
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13. RDSI Project Partner Sites
Project Total
- 4,010 kW Generation
- 760 kW Load Shed
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14. Spirae’s Bluefin™ Product Platform
AMI/ Spirae Bluefin
GIS CIS
MDM Applications
Distribution Network Operations – Data/ Process Integration Enterprise Node
Spirae Bluefin
OMS DMS SCADA
Enterprise
Spirae Bluefin Spirae Bluefin™
Embedded Embedded Intermediate Nodes
Substation
Spirae Bluefin™ Spirae Bluefin™ Spirae Bluefin™ Spirae Bluefin™ Spirae Bluefin™
Nano Nano Nano Nano Nano
DER Asset Nodes
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15. Capturing Benefits
Peak Comparison Graph - September 9, 2009
10000
9000
Feeder Peak System Peak
8000
7000
Site Peak
6000
Load (kW)
5000
Site
PV Production Peak Feeder
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Time (hr)
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16. Conclusion
Benefits
Smart Grid infrastructure requires: Value Added Applications
• Balanced approach to integrating Demand Intermittency Service
Information Tech and Power Tech Management Management Providers
• Infrastructure for value-added
applications Service Delivery Platform
• Multiple value streams from Enterprise Ancillary
Markets
Integration Services
common resource portfolio
• Alignment between policies, Active Network Management
markets, operations, and benefits
Reliability Operations Security
The FortZED project demonstrates:
• Scalable infrastructure Distributed Energy Resources
• Integrated energy project
DER Grid Demand
• Regional collaboration
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17. Thank You!
June 2011
Sunil Cherian, Ph.D.
CEO, Spirae, Inc.
+1 970.484.8259
sunil@spirae.com
320 Vine Dr., Suite 307 | Fort Collins, CO 80524 | +1 970.484.8259 | www.spirae.com
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