The EPS Inc. Studies Group consists of dedicated engineers with a history of delivering on-time, innovative, and practical results to our clients over the past 20 years. Our engineers, based in Washington and Alaska, have completed over 150 projects for clients located in the contiguous US, Alaska, Hawaii, and around the world.

Our people bring a wealth of knowledge and decades of experience working in the electrical infrastructure and energy sector. Our clients include investor-owned utilities, co-ops and municipalities, renewable energy developers, government agencies, independent power producers, industrial facilities, national labs, and utility vendors. The systems that we have studied vary in size from the large interconnections of the mainland United States to isolated microgrids and islanded systems.

Our staff has a diversity of backgrounds including utility positions involving protection, generation, emerging technologies, as well as system planning and operations. Other experience includes positions in academia, national labs, power electronics, and utility EMS software.

The EPS Inc. Studies group offers custom designed studies to meet the needs of our diverse client base. The following list offers example types of studies that our group offers. Our group is prepared to tackle all of your study needs.

Example Study Types

Long-Term Transmission and/or Distribution Planning

• Powerflow and Transient Simulations
• Model Tuning and Validation
• Development and Compliance with Transmission Planning Criteria
• Asset Management, Strategies, and Planning

Operational Studies

• Operating Limit Specification
• Compliance with System Performance Criteria
• Remedial Action Scheme (RAS) Design and Implementation
• Load Shedding Designs

Renewable Integration Studies

• Interconnection Analysis and System Requirements
• Distributed, Solar, and Wind Generation Impacts

Forensic Studies

• Event Re-creation in Simulation
• Benchmarking of Recorded Data and Simulations

Generation Studies

• Model Validation
• Excitation and Governor Controls Analysis

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Studies

• Interconnection Requirements
• Controls Analysis
• Development of Performance Criteria

Custom Model Development

• Transient Stability Models
• Vendor Collaboration

Compliance and Regulatory Mandates/Filing

• NERC TPL Compliance (e.g. TPL-001-4)
• NERC MOD Compliance (e.g. MOD-026-1 & MOD-027-1)
• NERC TOP Compliance (e.g. TOP-002-4)
• NERC PRC Compliance (e.g. PRC-006-3 and PRC-010-2)
• Among other NERC, IEEE, and IEC regulations and standards

Location: Hagatna, Guam

EPS evaluated the client’s future system configuration under increased renewable energy generation while determining the maximum allowable level of renewable energy penetration in order to still maintain stability and reliability. We built custom inverter models using GE PSLF, and analyzed generation controls using high-fidelity data recordings provided by the client. The study considered regulation, protection, Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) and new flexible generation, amongst other things.

Location: Lihue, Hawaii

EPS analyzed the client’s full system from a powerflow and transient stability perspective. This included a forensic study of a past blackout, an analysis of present-day system stability, and study of the future grid layout with new generation resources. Renewable energy devices were a key focus of planning, modeling, and long-range planning. Additionally, synchronous condenser capability and dynamic performance were key results of the overall study.

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

EPS evaluated current and future system configurations from a powerflow and transient stability perspective for compliance with industry standards. Our studies group proposed solutions, where necessary, such that both the current and future systems met standards. The scope of this project also included short circuit analysis, using ASPEN software, and custom model development for generating facilities.

Location: Richmond, Virginia

EPS evaluated a 100 MW solar facility for fulfillment of the NERC MOD-026 and MOD-027 requirements. The analysis included PSS/E stability modeling, collector system equivalencing, and PSS/E to PSLF Model conversion. Our study group supplied relevant documentation for NERC auditing purposes.

Location: Kahului, Hawaii

EPS used PSS/E software for this forensic study. Our study group modeled and evaluated the cause of a cascading fault condition that resulted in a total system collapse. Our studies group proposed additional protection schemes to avoid future system-wide outages.

Location: Ephrata, Washington

EPS studied the ability of the system to accept a large industrial load. The study looked at both power flow and transient stability concerns. The study also evaluated a corridor of the client’s system for potential overload conditions and identified potential transmission improvements required to mitigate overload conditions.

Location: Homer, Alaska

EPS provided support for the replacement of a governor at a hydroelectric facility. Our team worked with both the client and vendor to develop a conceptual design. The project included providing on-site support for vendor factory acceptance testing. Based on the results of these tests, our team developed custom PSSE models for the various control modes of the new governor including nominal and transient operation. The models were verified during the EPS-assisted on-site testing and commissioning of the replacement governor.