Michael Ropp from Northern Plains Power Technologies, a solution provider at the marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit 2013, on interpreting monitoring data for cost effectiveness. Interview with: Michael Ropp, President and Principal Engineer, Northern Plains Power Technologies

1. How Modeling Tools can Assist
Utilities with New Technologies
bring all the latest technological safely integrated into utility protection
advances together. and planning processes, and modeling is
very helpful in this.
Most power utilities have a set of in-
house modeling tools that cover up to Storm restoration is another issue that
80 to 90 per cent of their needs. The is weighing heavily on the industry.
remaining 10 to 20 per cent requires Distributed generation could be a help in
highly specialized knowledge and this process rather than a hindrance,
modeling tools. It is much more time and microgrids could play a major
and cost efficient to outsource these beneficial role in storm recovery. The
modeling requirements. development of new technologies will
help this be realized.
What advantages do virtual
Interview with: Michael Ropp, laboratories offer? There is a big push towards electric
President and Principal Engineer, vehicles and electrified rail. These may
Northern Plains Power Technologies These are computer tools that create a be preferred in the future to avoid the
model of the power system with an rising cost of oil. Electrification also
extremely high degree of physical presents the challenge of handling large
Power distribution and transmission fidelity. They offer high accuracy on how amounts of non-linear and non-
executives are faced with a range of certain elements interact, such as the stationary loads.
new technologies at the moment that impacts of variations between different
need to be integrated and understood, manufacturers’ equipment, and the
says Michael Ropp, President and operation of digital controllers and their
Principal Engineer, Northern Plains software in a complex operating
Power Technologies. “Modeling tools, environment. Virtual laboratories enable
together with engineering expertise, can
be utilized to bring all the latest
technological advances together,” he
experiments that could not be carried
out safely or cost-effectively on the real
system. The understanding of how the
The key is
adds.
As an engineering consulting firm at the
system works is enhanced and the
location of problems is easily detected. interpreting
information
marcus evans Distribution How can hardware and systems be
Technology & Innovation Summit properly monitored?
2013, in Dallas, Texas, April 22-23,
in a way
Ropp discusses how the dispersal of There is a diversified range of new
generation over the system can ensure technologies for monitoring. Advanced
energy delivery after storms. metering infrastructure is an example of
a technology that even today is
How can power distribution
executives better deal with new
technologies?
resulting in large amounts of new data
being sent to the utility. Some meters
perform event capturing that record
that will
The industry is buzzing with new
technologies, such as electric vehicle
data when an event happens on the
system. The key is interpreting this
information in a way that will be useful
be cost
effective
battery chargers, distributed generation, and cost effective to the utility.
and microgrids. The question is how do
executives integrate these into existing What are some of the aspects to
voltage regulation and protection consider moving forward?
schemes, and how should new data be
dealt with? Modeling tools, together with Penetration levels of distributed
engineering expertise, can be utilized to generation are rising. These must be

2. About the Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit 2013
The Energy Network - marcus
evans Summits group delivers This unique forum will take place at The Hotel Intercontinental, Dallas, Texas, April
peer-to-peer information on 22-23, 2013. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show,
strategic matters, professional this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and
trends and breakthrough solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The
innovations. Summit includes presentations on using technology to improve emergency
preparedness, optimizing the use of smart grid technology as business drivers for
growth and innovation and the best practices for distribution management systems
implementation.
www.dti-summit.com
Please note that the Summit is a
closed business event and the
Contact
number of participants strictly Maria Gregoriou, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division
limited.
Tel: + 357 22 849 400
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About Northern Plains Power Technologies
Northern Plains Power Technologies (NPPT) is an electrical engineering consulting firm specializing in detailed time-domain
simulations (“EMTP-type simulations”) of power systems, power apparatus, and the associated controls and communications; and
modeling of power systems in support of system planning and asset management. NPPT has special expertise with power
electronics, distributed generation, and microgrids.
www.northernplainspower.com
About marcus evans Summits
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To view the web version of this interview, please click here: www.dti-summit.com/MichaelRopp