By: NYISO |
New York has opened its new $38 million (£22.6m) smart grid and control centre which is expected to help improve grid reliability as well as avoid blackouts in the city.
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) – which oversees the city’s bulk electricity grid and wholesale electricity markets – said its facility in Rensselaer will manage the complexity of modern electric grid operations through smart grid technology as well as improve integration of renewable energy.
It includes a 2,300 square foot video wall which displays more than 3,000 live status points presenting key electric system operations data. Regional electric system information, weather and lightning-strike data, power demand forecasts and other information can also be customised for display to help operators forecast and mitigate potential disturbances.
Charles Schumer, New York’s Senior US Senator said: “We’re not just opening a state-of-the-art facility but we’re flipping the switch on a major cost-saver for residents throughout New York.
“This new digital control centre will save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year and help stave off the kind of blackouts that can cripple wide swathes of the state and drive the economy to a total stand-still.”
