Smart Grid Research at NREL''s Energy Systems Integration Facility by Ben Kroposki

This presentation will discuss the new research capabilities at the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). ESIF is a unique new national asset that has the capability to catalyze the public- and private-sector research and development (R&D) necessary to accelerate commercialization and adoption of smart grid technologies into today?s energy systems where they can operate synergistically with other energy resources and technologies. This 182,500-sq. ft. research facility provides a contained and controlled integrated energy system platform upon which the research community and commercial partners can develop and evaluate both individual technologies as well as integrated systems approaches. Through a combination of RD&D tools and approaches, ESIF allows researchers, entrepreneurs, utilities and other stakeholders the ability to identify and resolve the technical, operational, and financial risks of large-scale integration of smart grid technologies in today's environment.