The rise of AI, digital twin simulation, voice interaction and other digital advancements is providing utilities with the tools to better serve a proactive, liquid customer. The impact of these transformations goes beyond customer experience, deeply transforming utility business models, and signaling the path to the future of the utility-consumer relationship.

1. Distributed Energy Resource Integration
A Journey to a Transactive Energy Pilot Project
Alex Rojas
Director – Distributed Technologies
April - 2019
Illustration Source: Navigant

2. AGENDA
• Background
• Why Transactive Energy
• Strategic Project Phasing
• Sample Value Creation from Previous Projects
• Phases I and II – Most Apt to Host Transactive Energy Pilot
• Phase III – Simulation and Deployment of Transactive Energy Technology
and Market Framework
2
Illustration Source: Navigant

3. • The energy market is recognizing that both distributed generators and controlled loads are valuable
assets when properly integrated into a utility’s power network and communications network
• The proliferation of these Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) creates challenges and
opportunities for utilities when interconnected to their networks
• Ameren, as an innovative utility, sees an opportunity to explore and gain knowledge around
business, operational and technical aspects of a future energy transactional platform in the
distribution network
• Ameren aspires to become an important stakeholder in a future distribution-domain energy market
– should one develop in its service territory. Though, it is uncertain which entity would have the
operator's role
3
Why Consider a Transactive Platform Pilot Project

4. Ameren’s phased project sequence for DER integration:
 Ameren’s Phase I Microgrid Project – Generators
 Ameren’s Phase II Microgrid Project – Loads
 Ameren’s Phase III Microgrid Project – Transactive Platform
As a third phase, the team is using software, hardware and advanced
engineering tools to simulate and later deploy both central and
distributed ledger systems for trading energy in a transactive platform
in the medium voltage domain
 Phase IIIa – Gaming environment small-market simulation
 Phase IIIb – Technology deployment informed by previous phase’s
simulation4
Strategic Project Phasing
Leading to a Transactive Platform Pilot Project

5. 5
Value to Customer How
Resiliency Routing of energy from alternative power sources for delivery to load
Reliability
Monitoring and command of generators and loads for
mitigating power outages
Premise Energy Efficiency
Methods include regulating temperature, humidity and lighting based on
factors such as occupancy, ambient light and timing schedule
Lower Cost
Through advanced DER portfolio optimization based on fuel cost,
weather, LMPs and more
Lower Emissions Through advanced DER portfolio optimization based on CO2 emissions
Sample Value Creation from Phases I and II

6. Phase I – Generators
6

7. 7
Focused on monitoring, command, aggregation,
optimization and dispatch of distributed generators
Developed and exercised best practices around the safe
integration of generators onto the distribution network
Phase I - Advanced Generator Management

8. Phase I - Advanced Generator Management (cont)
8
Generators:
• Solar PV
• Wind Turbine
• Natural Gas Generator
• Energy Storage (Li Ion
Batteries)
Loads:
• EV Charging Station
• Apartment Building (students)
• Small Businesses
• U of I Tech Service Office
• Elementary School
• U of I Warehouse
Similar description to VPP:
An aggregation of distributed
generators, loads and energy storage
that form a virtual entity that interacts
with AIC’s ADMS…

9. Phase II – Loads
9

10. 10
Focus on monitoring, command, aggregation,
optimization and dispatch of distributed loads
Outfitted three AIC owned facilities with Building
Automation Systems
Demonstrates the potential of C&I loads to
become valuable distributed energy resources
Connects building automation systems to a
central control platform
Demonstrates the benefits from load
aggregation
Phase II - Advanced Load Management
Picture Source: Alex’s Camera During Commissioning

11. 11
Metro-East Training Center
500kVATransformer
East St. Louis Operating Center
1MVA Transformer
Jasper St. Operating Center
2 x 750kVA Transformers
Phase II - Advanced Load Management

12. Phase III – Transactive Energy Pilot Project
12

13. 13
Transactive Platform Pilot Project Objectives
• Primarily, this project will inform Ameren about the applicability of
technologies and business models in a future transactive energy platform in the
medium voltage electric distribution domain
• It will exercise Ameren in the use of software and advanced engineering tools
to simulate both central and distributed ledger systems for trading energy in a
transactive platform
• It will challenge and stimulate Ameren coworkers, its business and technology
partners to develop and deploy an actual energy trading platform (as a pilot
project)

14. 14
Phase IIIa – Gaming Environment Small-Market Simulation
Project Highlights
1. Will represent scenarios that mimic true market and operational conditions – as
much as practical in a simulated platform
2. A forecasted load profile guides energy trading
3. The balancing authority in the medium voltage domain is the transactive energy
platform operator
4. The owner/operator for each DER and Flexible Load participates independently in
the market (i.e. bids to market)
5. Power flow simulation is represented at medium voltage (i.e. 12.47kV)
6. Typical grid operation conditions are observed (i.e. unplanned outages, planned
outages, market participant failure to meet commitment, etc)
7. Transient stability, relay protection schemes, and similar rigorous operational
considerations are not considered

15. 15
Phase IIIb – Deployment Informed by Previous Simulation
A Likely host is the utility analytics and control platform deployed in phases I and II
Utility Analytics
(Control
Hierarchy)
Temporal
Requirement
Typical Functions Hosts
High-Latency
(Tertiary Control)
Minutes • Forecasting
• Advanced Optimization
• Modeling
Cloud
(Schneider StruxureWare)
Mid-Latency
(Secondary
Control)
Seconds • SCADA
• Load Control
• Generation Control
Distributed Controllers
(IPERC)
Real-time
analytics
(Primary
Control)
Micro- to
Milli- Seconds
• Switching Logic
• Protection
• DER Inverter Controllers
• Gas Engine Governor
• Protection Relays

16. 16
Advanced Control Operations
ADMS
DERMS
D-RIG
D-RIG
D-RIG
D-RIG
Power / Voltage Information
CommunicationsNetwork
PRICESIGNALS
BAS – Building Automation System
D-RIG – Distribution Remote Intelligent
Gateway
DERMS – Distributed Energy Resource
Management System
ADMS – Advanced Distribution
Management System
Transactive Platform – Distributed Ledger System (Blockchain)

17. 17
Contracts / Futures Markets / Exchange
Trading
Balancing &
Settlement
Company
Supplier(s)
Wholesale
Generator(s)
Advanced Control Operations
ADMS
DERMS
D-RIG
D-RIG
D-RIG
D-RIG
Price Signals
Power / Voltage Information
CommunicationsNetwork
Transactive Platform – Centralized Ledger System

18. QUESTIONS
18

19. Backup Slides
19

20. 20
Demand Side Management
A platform designed to influence or directly modify energy consumption profiles in the distribution domain
through:
o Planned Electrification
o Tariff Design (Demand charges, Time of Use Metering, etc)
o DER Monitoring, Optimization and Dispatch (microgrid technology)
o Load Monitoring, Optimization and Dispatch
Graphic Source: Marco Pasetti, Stefano Rinaldi, Daniele Manerba; “Virtual Power Plant Architecture for the Demand-Side
Management of Smart Prosumers”; Journal of Applied Science; March 2018

21. 21
Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)
An aggregation of distributed
generators, loads and energy storage
that form a virtual entity that interacts
with a:
o Distribution system operator
and/or
o Independent system operator
Through telemetry and software
controllers the energy and capacity in
all DERs are aggregated to achieve
meaningful levels (tens of MWs)
Bulk energy market participation
becomes feasible
Adapted from: Aaron Zurborg; “Unlocking Customer Value: The Virtual Power Plant ”; World
Power; 2010

22. Cloud
Utility Analytics Hosts
22
Switch
Solar PV
Energy Storage
Natural Gas
Electric Generator
M
Residential Loads
M = Meter
at Feeder
BiomassWind
Commercial &
Industrial
Loads
High-Latency
(Tertiary
Control)
Real-time
analytics
(Primary
Control)
Mid-Latency
(Secondary
Control)

23. 23
Traditional Energy Management System (EMS)
Remote Intelligent Gateway (RIG)
Central Plant Interface
Input:
Generator(s) Watts, VARs, Volts
Gen Comms Connection Status
Gen Energy Connection Status
Output:
Emergency trip
More….
Independent System Operator Interface
Input:
AGC set points
Start/Stop Production
Output:
Comms Connection Status
Energy Connection Status
Watts, VARs, Volts
 Rugged/Industrial Class
Comms Gateway
 Cyber secure
 ISO – Approved
 > $100 kUSD market price

24. 24
Will improve energy delivery reliability and
resilience to down-feeder customers
Integrating 1 MWhr of Lithium Ion Batteries;
integrated to 12.47kV feeder through a 1 MW
inverter and a step-up transformer in the town of
Thebes, IL
Integrating system to Ameren’s SCADA through
4G (non-private)
Phase II - Feeder-Connected Energy Storage
Picture Source: Alex’s Camera During Commissioning