Austin Energy rolls out updates to renewable energy and storage program

As Austin Energy continues to refine its renewable energy and storage network, customers using solar panels or electric vehicles can look forward to some system upgrades.

Richard Genece, vice president of customer energy solutions, and Tim Harvey, renewable solutions manager, stopped by last week’s Electric Utility Commission meeting to present a number of developments in the utility’s microgrid technologies. Microgrids are systems able to “disconnect from the traditional grid to operate autonomously and locally,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity.

The team said the upgrades – which include improved billing systems, safety enhancements and generation capabilities – are exciting moves toward increased grid resilience and sustainability.

On the solar power front, upgrades to Austin Energy’s meter reading system will better handle DC coupling, reading customers’ solar meters bidirectionally to provide more accurate billing. Previously, energy absorbed from the grid was indistinguishable from solar-generated power once stored in the battery system.

New meter disconnector devices are also in the pipeline. The devices work to safeguard against hazardous backfeeding – defined as “a situation whereby the normal power flow is reversed and current flows from the customer system into the AE distribution system,” according to the utility – as microgrids come online during grid failures. Harvey said the devices, which are installed in the meter collar, will save both customers and the utility significant time during installation and maintenance.

“Rather than having to go into the main electrical panel and relocate a bunch of loads, doing hours worth of work, they can install this device in 10 minutes,” Harvey said. “We expect to see more of these come along. … We want to embrace them, but we also want to make sure that we’re ready to handle them.”

And electric vehicle owners can anticipate new vehicle-to-home generation capabilities, after a successful demonstration last April used the battery from a Ford F-150 Lightning to power an entire home off the grid. As more and more Austinites transition to battery-powered transportation, Austin Energy hopes the tool can be pivotal in the event of blackouts or grid strain.

Austin Energy customers can learn more about renewable energy and storage options at the utility’s website.

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