Driving Energy Transition with Acelerex's Grid Analytics Software Suite

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, Acelerex’s Grid Analytics Software Suite provides a comprehensive platform for analyzing complex energy transition challenges and driving strategic decision-making. This state-of-the-art solution includes three sophisticated tools—Alternative Analytics (AA) for least-cost grid expansion with a load forecasting sub-module, Nodal Production Cost (NPC) for network planning and optimization, and the Stacked Services Emulator (SSE) for system operation simulation and economics. In addition, the Acelerex software has technical calculations of AC power flow, short circuit, and transient stability. Together, these tools deliver actionable insights for capacity optimization, grid expansion, system optimization, cost optimization, and financial planning.

Acelerex's Key Contributions

Acelerex’s Grid Analytics Software Suite employs cutting-edge analysis and methodologies to support energy transition initiatives.

All over the world, electric grids are being strained by increasing amounts of non-dispatchable, renewable energy. As solar PV installations expand, island nations can experience a net demand curve similar to California’s "duck curve," dubbed the "Dodo Bird Curve" in this context. During peak solar production hours, demand on base load generators will dip significantly, causing potential operational challenges. These include managing excess generation, curtailing solar output, and addressing rapid changes in power supply during sunrise and sunset ramping periods.

Grid Expansion & Investment Analysis

• Capacity Optimization: The Alternative Analytics (AA) tool uses baseline data and scenario variables to identify critical areas for grid development and upgrade. Robust modeling techniques account for system constraints, regulatory policies, and demand factors.
• Capital Investment Projections: Utilizing financial metrics like Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), AA ensures investment strategies align with long-term goals. Sensitivity analyses address market uncertainties, enhancing financial reliability.
• Operating Cost Optimization: Sustainable grid expansion plans integrate technical and environmental considerations, prioritizing renewable energy integration and cost efficiency across the asset lifecycle.

Technical & Economic Analysis

• Load Forecasting & Dispatch Optimization: The Nodal Production Cost (NPC) tool processes historical and projected load data to generate accurate forecasts and enable optimized dispatch planning. Tailored to regional consumption patterns and growth trends, these insights guide decision-making for diverse generation scenarios.
• System Loss Assessments: Detailed evaluations of transmission and distribution inefficiencies provide actionable recommendations for reducing energy losses and improving grid performance.
• Marginal Cost Analysis: NPC assesses the marginal electricity production costs for various generation scenarios, helping stakeholders make informed decisions about resource allocation and cost-effective energy planning.
• Fuel Purchase Value at Risk (VAR): Monte Carlo model of historical prices, forecasted prices, and future fuel purchases to assess and optimize the total VAR for electric grids with significant conventional generation technology deployments.
  • By integrating advanced hedging mechanisms, such as futures contracts, procurement costs can be stabilized, safeguarding the budget from market volatility.
• Acelerex Software Technical Calculations for Grid Design: AC power flow, short circuit, and transient stability

Environmental & Financial Impact Assessments

• Energy Asset Lifecycle Cost Analysis: The Stacked Services Emulator (SSE) examines capital costs, operational expenses, fuel costs, and decommissioning considerations for conventional generation, renewables, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), supporting long-term planning.
• DER Integration Impacts: SSE evaluates the challenges and opportunities of distributed energy resources (DER), balancing system stability with increased renewable penetration.
• Electricity Rate Implications: Comprehensive analysis of tariff structures, subsidy impacts, and usage patterns provides actionable insights for optimizing electricity rates across consumer segments.
• OPEX Savings & Environmental Impact: Multi-scenario cost-benefit analyses include long-term operational expense (OPEX) savings with sensitivity analysis. Environmental impact assessments factor in emissions, land use, and biodiversity, ensuring projects align with sustainability goals.
• Annuity Calculation: Fixed annuity models forecast annual, financial commitments during peak investment years, tapering as debts are amortized.
  • This financial structure ensures the feasibility of deploying utility-scale solar, wind, and storage systems while aligning with sustainability goals.
• Projections and Forecasts for Annual Report: Results from Acelerex AA, NPC, and SSE modules are utilized to enhance forecasting of annual reports and future financial positions for utilities and regulators.

Strategic Insights for Energy Transition Planning

Acelerex’s integrated approach synthesizes client-provided data with advanced modeling techniques to:

• Identify optimal pathways for achieving sustainable energy futures.
• Develop detailed, scenario-based plans for grid expansion and modernization.
• Evaluate financial and environmental impacts across diverse operational frameworks.

By leveraging these tools, policymakers and investors gain access to high-quality insights that drive strategic planning and investment decisions. Whether optimizing grid infrastructure or ensuring cost-effective integration of renewable energy sources, Acelerex’s software suite provides the robust analytical foundation needed to navigate the complexities of the energy transition.

How the Modules Work Together

The three tools work in harmony to address different aspects of energy transition planning:

• Alternative Analytics (AA): Focuses on grid expansion and investment planning by analyzing baseline scenarios, capital investments, and operating costs.
• Nodal Production Cost (NPC): Provides technical and economic insights by processing load data, generation scenarios, and system components, delivering forecasts and loss assessments.
• Stacked Services Emulator (SSE): Evaluates BESS technologies, DER integration, and financial implications, offering insights into lifecycle costs, operational savings, and environmental impacts. Together, these tools provide a holistic framework for evidence-based decision-making in policy development and investment planning, paving the way for a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy future.

Together, these tools provide a holistic framework for evidence-based decision-making in policy development and investment planning, paving the way for a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy future.

Alternative Analytics (AA) Module

Focuses on grid expansion and investment planning by analyzing baseline scenarios, capital investments, and operating costs to minimize total system costs over an extended time frame.

Key Features:Core Capabilities:Investment Portfolio Optimization: Comprehensive investment strategy analysis for energy resources
Evaluates the 4 W's of Investment: What investments to make
Where to position resources
Why make specific decisions
How much capital to deploySophisticated hourly generation optimization
Determines optimal timing for:
Facility retirements
Alternative capacity developmentUses mixed integer program (MIP) optimization for cost-effective resource allocation across:
Variable energy resources
Energy efficiency measures
Demand response programs
Energy storage systems
Conventional power generation

Nodal Product Cost (NPC) Module

Provides technical and economic insights by processing load data, generation scenarios, and system components, delivering forecasts and loss assessments.

Stacked Services Emulator (SSE) Module

Acelerex SSE Module emulates energy resource projects delivering stacked services and quantifies the benefits within a defined energy system or electric grid.

Key Applications:Operating Parameters:Input / Output:Peak shaving
Renewable economic shifting
Demand services
Ancillary services (primary, secondary, tertiary reserve)  Maximizes profit from hourly dispatch
Considers project characteristics:
Runtime
Start / Stop Time
Efficiency
Size
Fuel Availability / Duration
Capacity fade curve
Initial state of charge (SOC)  Input: Energy and reserve prices from Production Cost
Output: Hourly dispatch data and annual revenue tabulation  

Acelerex’s Integrated Approach

Acelerex’s integrated approach synthesizes client-provided data with advanced modeling techniques to:

• Identify optimal pathways for achieving sustainable energy futures.
• Develop detailed, scenario-based plans for grid expansion and modernization.
• Evaluate financial and environmental impacts across diverse operational frameworks.

By leveraging these tools, policymakers and investors gain access to high-quality insights that drive strategic planning and investment decisions. Whether optimizing grid infrastructure or ensuring cost-effective integration of renewable energy sources, Acelerex’s software suite provides the robust analytical foundation needed to navigate the complexities of the energy transition.

What we solve? Key Solutions and Outcomes

Acelerex's integrated software suite tackles complex energy transition challenges through three powerful modules that work in concert. These tools collectively provide comprehensive analysis of total system costs, including capital expenditure, operations and maintenance, storage impacts, and economic scenarios.

These tools inform strategic procurement decisions regarding both quantities and locations of the energy builds in the country, evaluate the economic advantages of saving operating expenditures for renewable alternatives like solar versus traditional generation, and support policy development for specialized programs like EV initiatives based on capacity assessments. Through sophisticated financial modeling, the suite enables long-term planning with detailed annuity calculations and investment projections, ultimately delivering actionable insights for capacity optimization, grid expansion, system optimization, cost optimization, and financial planning.

Fuel Purchases Value at Risk

Reliance on fossil fuels can result in significant financial risks. A Value at Risk (VaR) analysis revealed substantial median annual costs for fossil fuels. Under extreme scenarios, costs could surge significantly. By integrating advanced hedging mechanisms, such as futures contracts, procurement costs can be stabilized, safeguarding the budget from market volatility.

Calculating Annuities

Achieving renewable energy targets can significant capital investment. Fixed annuity models forecast annual commitments during peak investment years, tapering as debts are amortized. This financial structure ensures the feasibility of deploying utility-scale solar, wind, and storage systems while aligning with sustainability goals.

Key Solutions and Outcomes

Our comprehensive analysis delivers detailed insights into:

• Total system costs including capital expenditure, variable and fixed operations & maintenance costs, storage degradation, cycling impacts, retirement schedules, and economic build-out scenarios
• Long-term financial planning through detailed annuity calculations and investment projections
• It informs procurement on the amounts
• It informs procurement on the locations
• Total opex- software tells advantage of having solar instead of thermals
• Policy advice - Special EV program, etc based on underbuilt; over capacity, etc.

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