Smart Wires and Hunt Energy Solutions Announce Distribution Partnership in Latin America

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Smart Wires and Hunt Energy Solutions are pleased to announce their formal partnership whereby Hunt Energy Solutions will serve as Smart Wires’ exclusive distribution partner in the Latin American areas of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Peru.

Smart Wires sees key strategic reasons to partner with Hunt Energy Solutions to accelerate commercial adoption by leveraging Hunt’s extensive connections in these Latin American markets.  Hunt Energy Solutions realizes the transformational impact that Smart Wires SmartValveTM solutions can have for electric grids all over the world.

Announcing the deal, Hunt Energy Solutions said the two companies were aligned in their entrepreneurial spirit, and desire to transform how electric grids are planned and operated.

SmartValve solutions are gaining significant global attention and heralding a new era in the energy industry. Prior to Smart Wires, the industry lacked an easily redeployable, intelligent “valve” to efficiently route power along lines with excess capacity. Smart Wires allows utilities to fully utilize the grid they have already built.

SmartValves can increase or decrease the reactance of a given circuit, resulting in power pushed off overloaded lines or pulled on to under-utilized circuits. SmartValves are also capable of providing dynamic services (e.g. power oscillation damping). These solutions enable utilities to better control their transmission networks, which means they can now integrate renewables more efficiently and at a lower cost to consumers.

Series compensation is typically added to lines to help more power flow on them, ensuring they are used to their fullest potential. The traditional means of providing series compensation is by installing a series capacitor. The SmartValve solution provides key advantages compared to traditional series capacitors including the avoidance of sub-synchronous resonance (SSR), minimized impacts to system protections and real-time granular control.

SSR is a phenomenon that occurs when the mechanical resonant frequency of a generator shaft matches the electrical resonant frequency of the line. This is a key concern in US grids and in Latin America. This can cause catastrophic failures of generator shafts resulting in significant expenses and extended outages for repair. SmartValve technology cannot cause SSR because it injects capacitance only at the fundamental power system frequency rather than across all frequencies like a conventional capacitor.

In addition to the distribution agreement, Smart Wires has also signed a master supply agreement with an affiliate of Hunt Energy Solutions to supply SmartValves for future electric transmission projects in the southwestern United States.

About Hunt Energy Solutions

Hunt Energy Solutions (HES) focuses on non-regulated electric infrastructure projects related to oil and gas exploration and production, renewable power generation, municipal assets, and smart grid applications.  HES is part of a larger privately-owned group of companies managed by the Ray L. Hunt family that engages in oil and gas exploration, refining, power, real estate, ranching, and private equity investments.

About Smart Wires

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in the United States, Ireland and Australia, Smart Wires (www.SmartWires.com) is the leader in grid optimization solutions that leverage its patented modular power flow control technology. Driven by a world-class leadership team with extensive experience delivering innovative solutions, Smart Wires partners with utilities around the globe to address the unique challenges of the rapidly evolving electric system

 

 

Revolutionary power technology showcased in Dublin as part of cross-European tour

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A revolutionary mobile power flow control unit which can significantly increase the amount of renewable energy that electricity grids can accommodate, was showcased in Dublin.

Smart Wires® mobile unit leverages modular power flow control technology developed by pioneering power technology company, Smart Wires, whose European headquarters are based in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

The mobile unit, which is the size of a semi-trailer, is traveling from the USA to Greece’s Peloponnese region, where it will be deployed on the Greek Transmission System.

It heralds a new era in the use of renewable energy and the fight against climate change – allowing utilities to quickly connect renewables without needing to complete major grid reinforcements.

In Greece, this unit will allow 52 megawatts of previously constrained renewable generation to fully access the market. After several months in Greece, the unit will move to the Bulgarian transmission system in 2020, where it will be leveraged to increase cross-border transfers.

Smart Wires’ technology is gaining significant global attention in the energy industry – it enables utilities to control where power flows on their networks, which means they can now integrate renewables more efficiently and at a lower cost to consumers.

“Our power flow technology is a game changer in the energy industry,” said Smart Wires Managing Director – Europe, Michael Walsh.

“By enabling electricity companies to route power around their existing grid, it’s reducing the need for new lines, and allowing for significantly more renewable energy to enter the grid,” he said.

“Importantly, it can be delivered in months and installed in hours, allowing grid companies to respond much faster to the needs of generators, customers and communities.”

“Power flow control is not new, but Smart Wires innovative technology provides the industry with an incredibly flexible and high-impact solution, which ultimately delivers a faster, cheaper and better way to plan and operate power systems,” he said.

The installation of Smart Wires mobile power flow control on the Greek and Bulgarian transmission systems is part of a Horizon 2020 consortium called FLEXITRANSTORE. Funded by the EU Commission, FLEXITRANSTORE demonstrates a variety of smart grid technologies, control methods, energy storage and new market approaches which will introduce flexibility to the European power system, increasing renewable penetration and improving cross-border flows.

This particular mobile unit can be installed very quickly – once the site is prepared, the unit can be connected to the grid in less than one day. As it is a mobile unit, it is fully redeployable and can be reused many times within a given grid.

Utilities around the world are exploring ways to leverage this device – often for challenges like resolving seasonal congestion, extending outage windows to help complete critical construction projects or serving as a bridge-solution while a delayed long-term fix comes into service.

“The success of recent projects is starting to change the way grid operators across the world think about integrating renewable generation,” said Mr Walsh.

“We are now working with utilities across the globe, from the US to Australia and throughout Europe, to help them revolutionize their existing grid systems.”

Smart Wires Wins Innovation in Technology Award from Irish Wind Energy Association

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Peter O’Shea, ESB’s Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs, and Mark Foley, Chief Executive of EirGrid, congratulate Smart Wires’ Michael Walsh and Marie Hayden on their receipt of IWEA‘s Innovation in Technology award

Revolutionary power flow control system will help fight climate change

A revolutionary power flow control system which can significantly increase the amount of renewable energy that the electricity grids can accommodate, has won the Irish Wind Energy Association’s (IWEA) Innovation in Technology award.

SmartValveTM, which was developed by pioneering power technology company, Smart Wires, helps electric utilities integrate renewables more efficiently and at a lower cost to consumers by controlling where power flows on the network.

SmartValves enable operators to control the characteristics of power lines so they can push power off  overloaded lines or pull power on to under-utilised circuits.  This means they can capture the excess capacity that exists on their grids today.

“SmartValve is a game changer in the energy industry,” said Smart Wires Managing Director – Europe, Michael Walsh. “This technology allows electricity companies to route power around the existing grid, reducing the need for new lines,” he said.

“Importantly, it can be delivered and installed in weeks, allowing grid companies to respond much faster to the needs of generators, customers and communities.”

“Power flow control is not new, but Smart Wires innovative technology is providing the industry with an incredibly flexible and high-impact solution, which ultimately delivers a faster, cheaper and better way to plan and operate power systems,” he said.

Ireland’s transmission system operator, EirGrid, saw the potential for this innovative technology to help meet the future needs of the grid, and is the world’s first utility to use SmartValve.

“The success of our joint project with EirGrid is starting to change the way grid operators across the world think about integrating renewable generation,” said Mr Walsh.

“We are now working with utilities across the globe, from the US to Australia and throughout Europe, to help them revolutionise their existing grid systems.”

Speaking after the presentation, Irish Wind Energy Association CEO, Dr. David Connolly, remarked,
“In Ireland we have a proud history of leading the world in integrating high volumes of renewable energy.

“We see first-hand many of the challenges the world will face as we intensify the fight against climate change. The availability of new technology like SmartValve gives me great optimism that we will be successful,” he said.

“It tackles the current limits on our ability to use all of our existing grid capacity, and that is one of the most important challenges we face,” said Dr Connolly.

Smart Wires showcases mobile solution at International Lineman’s Rodeo

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Smart Wires showcases its Mobile Powerflow solution at the International Lineman’s Rodeo, Oct. 11-12, in Overland Park, Kansas! The unit is on display at Booth # 634. See an amazing new tool utilities can use to expand outage windows and get their mission critical reconductoring and maintenance projects done on time and within budget.

Smart Wires establishes European Headquarters in Dublin

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Haroon Inam (Smart Wires Chief Technology Officer), Denis Naughten (Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment), and Gregg Rotenberg (Smart Wires President and CEO)

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten TD visited Smart Wires HQ in Union City, California today where the company CEO Gregg Rotenberg confirmed the opening of Smart Wires’ European Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.  Smart Wires will create 40 jobs in Europe over the next 3 years with 10 of the roles being filled immediately in Engineering and Business Development.

This investment is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Smart Wires technology allows electricity companies to route power around the existing grid reducing the need for new lines.   The solutions can be delivered and installed in weeks allowing power grid companies to respond much faster to the needs of generators, customers and communities.

Gregg has been highly impressed with European leadership on the energy transition “Smart Wires is experiencing most of our fastest growth in Europe. The need to decarbonize energy in a way that respects local communities is high on the agenda of European industry leaders and we are proud to have a solution that can help achieve this”.

Speaking from Union City, California Minister Denis Naughten T.D said “I very much welcome today’s announcement from Smart Wires. Technology is central to the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and in the past two years we have added substantial jobs in this area.  I have been highly impressed by the talent and technology I have seen here today.  The news that Smart Wires is basing its European Operations in Ireland is a clear endorsement of our business environment and talented workforce and the leading role Ireland is playing in integrating renewable technologies onto the grid.”

Smart Wires was founded in 2010 and currently has a global team of over 200 engineers working to re-invent the power grid. The European team is delivering projects in the UK, Germany, France and Greece this year and is experiencing rapid growth across the continent.

Smart Wires Managing Director for the Europe Region, Michael Walsh added “This is a special company with technology that will change how utilities everywhere think of power grids. We can now solve problems in weeks that traditionally took years.  Our flexibility means we can respond to changing demands as they happen – saving customers money and reducing our impact on the environment and communities”.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland, said, “Smart Wires was attracted to Ireland due to the country’s international reputation as a location where companies can quickly establish their operations and rapidly expand using the strong pool of tech talent. The European HQ in Dublin will play a central role in the company’s international expansion.”

Smart Wires named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies by The Silicon Review

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Smart Wires was featured by the Silicon Review in their annual 50 Fastest Growing Companies for 2018. Click here to read the full article, “Smart Wires Inc. — Powering the Future”

“Smart Wires’ most important assets combine to form a perfect storm,” says Gregg Rotenberg, CEO & President, Smart Wires, Inc. “We invest three times more than the industry norm in finding top talent. As a result, we are consistently securing incredible additions to our team.”

Smart Wires Chairman Thomas R. Voss to receive honorary degree from S&T

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Tom Voss retired president and CEO of Ameren. and executive chairman of Smart Wires Inc. will receive the doctor of engineering, honoris causa during commencement ceremonies at Missouri S&T on Saturday, May 12.  Click here to read full story »