FINAL SOW.docx

Study of Smart Grid Sensors and Measurement Needs

A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The development of the Smart Grid is a top National priority that will save infrastructure investment cost, reduce dependence on foreign oil by integrating renewable resources to the grid on a wide scale, and give the consumer greater control over their electrical energy costs. It will accommodate future electricity demand by optimizing the operation of the power grid for much greater efficiency, resilience to disturbances due to natural effects such as lightning, simplifying and reducing the cost of new technologies such as wind farms, and large photovoltaic arrays to transmission systems including a large number of smaller energy resources in distribution systems. The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) gave NIST the responsibility for coordinating the development of Smart Grid standards. Also, NIST’s mission is to provide for the Nation’s measurement needs.

To ensure that the grid is robust requires better monitoring and control of the electric power grid over wide geographical areas. There is a need for improved measurement capabilities and sensors to monitor equipment performance in the field and to monitor grid operating conditions to ensure that the deployment of the many new generation technologies and variable loads do not introduce instabilities that degrade reliability. This work will support the further development of the NIST Smart Grid effort in response to the 2007 EISA mandate and help guide NIST’s research activities to support present and future measurement needs for the Smart Grid. It will support the development of a NIST laboratory for Smart Grid sensors.

B. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide all support for project oversight, equipment, administration and technical execution covering efforts to support NIST research in measurements and sensors for the Smart Grid as follows:

· Examination and summary of the existing sensor technologies used in the electric power grid at present.

· Identification and prioritization of sensor needs for the present and future Smart Grid

· Recommendations for NIST research in support of measurement needs

The proposed work is not intended to be an extensive, detailed, review of all existing sensor technologies, nor a comprehensive analysis of all Smart Grid sensor and measurement needs. Rather, it should be a brief overview of what measurement technologies are used in the grid today, and a summary of the most urgent needs for sensors and measurements of electrical quantities that are widely acknowledged by the industry.

C. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall:

TASK 1: Perform a study of existing sensor and measurement technologies used in the electric power grid today, including the applications, limits of their measurement capabilities (bandwidth, dynamic range, and other parameters).

TASK 2: Identify sensor and measurement needs for the present and future Smart Grid. This should include equipment condition monitoring; the use of Smart Meters for electric power grid operations; monitoring of residential, commercial, and industrial loads; power quality monitoring; real-time power line and equipment ratings; as well as other existing and emerging needs. The technologies examined should include those based on optical, conventional electrical, microelectromechanical machines (MEMs), and other methods. This should also examine studies and summarize measurement and sensor needs identified in other studies performed by other organizations such as EPRI, IEEE, the National Science Foundation, MIT, and others. This task should focus on measurements of electrical quantities (voltage, current, power, and energy), and in particular, the most pressing needs widely acknowledged by utilities.

TASK 3: Provide a summary with recommendations for prioritization of Smart Grid measurement and sensor needs; identification of measurement challenges; and proposed research appropriate to NISTs mission.

D. PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be six months from date of award.

The majority of the work shall be performed at the Contractor’s site, with interim, final, and other meetings, as necessary, held at NIST.

E. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

All material provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this contract remain the property of the Government.

F. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall:

· Provide an interim briefing and written report covering progress on the three tasks identified above in Section C, not later than three months from date of award, which shall include preliminary findings, analysis, and recommendations.

· Provide a briefing and final report on the three tasks identified above in Section C, not later than size months from date of award, which shall include findings, analysis and recommendations.

· Provide other updates, as necessary, at NIST’s request.

The interim and final reports shall include:

· a chapter covering the sensors and measurements commonly used in electric transmission and distribution grids today, with tables summarizing the most prevalent sensor and measurement technologies , with their performance specifications.

· A chapter covering the emerging sensor and measurement needs for the Smart Grid, including transmission and distribution grids, with tables covering the needs and applicable sensor technologies both existing and under development that may meet those needs, a comparison of benefits and drawbacks to each including performance and cost

· A chapter identifying and prioritizing the salient measurement challenges for the Smart Grid, and relate them to possible NIST research work appropriate to its mission to support sensor development, characterization, and calibration, and address other identified measurement challenges.

G. RISK ASSESSMENT

The Security Risk Level assigned to this contract is low risk.

H. CONTRACTOR’S MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor must have at least five (5) years of expert knowledge of electric power grid operations and technologies, the Smart Grid, sensors and measurements.