Oracle's New ADMS Enhancements: Revolutionizing Grid Management

In the ever-evolving landscape of energy distribution, utilities face an unprecedented challenge: managing an increasingly complex grid while meeting the growing demands of stakeholders. oracle, a leader in enterprise software solutions, has stepped up to the plate with significant enhancements to its Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS). These updates are designed to empower utilities with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of modern power grids, particularly in managing distributed energy resources (DERs).



Enhanced DER Management and Optimization

One of the standout features of Oracle's new ADMS enhancements is the improved Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) module. This module provides utilities with deeper insights into expected load and the impact of DER reductions for planned events. A new 7-day forecast algorithm allows for event planning up to a week in advance with hourly forecasts, enabling faster and more efficient forecast generation with fewer resources. This capability is crucial for utilities like sdg&e, which currently has 2 GW of distributed generation at approximately 250,000 locations on its system.

Michael Kelly, associate director for market intelligence and advisory firm Guidehouse Insights, notes that "Oracle has made notable advancements with its DERMS platform since its initial release by developing grid- and edge-DERMS solutions aimed at utility-scale DER and aggregated DER portfolios, respectively." This end-to-end DERMS solution facilitates greater coverage and visibility from the customer to the network, helping utilities manage the ever-growing numbers of front-of-the-meter (FTM) and behind-the-meter (BTM) resources and their data.

Improved Grid Event Management

The enhanced DERMS module also supports grid-connected energy resources, providing new data to aid in network optimization. An expanded model for battery energy storage systems (BESS) adds real-time and forward-looking data for more cost-effective resource optimization. Similarly, an enhanced model for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) includes technical data and smart charging modes to optimize EVs and charging stations. These enhancements help grid operators effectively utilize DER resources while better managing voltage and loading conditions.

Advanced SCADA Capabilities

New integrated capabilities in the Oracle Utilities Flex SCADA module enhance the Oracle NMS platform by enabling the deployment, commissioning, monitoring, and control of field devices. An enhanced interface helps users quickly access and act on high-level data, including historical and real-time trends, while dynamically setting or adjusting limits for devices such as feeder breakers and reclosers based on measured values. Additionally, a fully modernized calculation engine enables users to more easily create and update calculations to reflect real-time data changes. Users can customize power measurements or complex aggregations and apply them to individual devices or entire device classes.

Real-Time Data and Predictive Modeling

The ADMS functions on a single software platform, serving as both a digital twin and a nerve center that can unify complex operations, centralize decision-making, and bring consistency across the operating companies. This real-time awareness across multiple streams of data, from measuring customer load and detecting outages, to forecasting weather and power price effects on demand, allows operators to be deliberately responsive and proactive instead of only being reactive.

Streamlined Work Practices and Efficiencies

The ADMS helps manage large-scale events, streamlining work practices and supporting efficiencies. In the control room, operators can see all essential data, e.g., real-time power flow and network model updates, via a “single pane of glass.” This helps simplify decision-making, and thus helps enhance safety, reliability, restoration, and system planning. Visibility and management of the overall network extends beyond the control room: On the ground, line workers can clearly see what’s happening with Oracle’s Operational Mobile Application (OMA), which enables them to update outages directly from their mobile device. In district offices and other remote locations, FirstEnergy staff can easily connect to a browser-based version of the ADMS – called Flex Operations – to help manage outages, crews, and switching.

Heightened Situational Awareness

A key objective was to give control room operators and field workers the same situational awareness. The Oracle Utilities NMS Flex Operations (FlexOps) application extends outage management and crew dispatch capabilities beyond the control room, enabling hundreds of additional users to quickly and securely log on to help manage outage restoration activities. FlexOps includes outage and crews lists, and an interactive network viewer that displays conductor highlights, phases, text annotations, map backdrops, and other real-time network information similar to the core ADMS. Field crews can receive outage restoration, damage response, and hazard assessment tasks on their mobile devices, and then update the system in real-time.

Case Study: FirstEnergy's ADMS Implementation

FirstEnergy's ambitious project, known internally as “aDAPT” (Distribution Applications Powering Tomorrow), is a testament to the power of Oracle's ADMS. This four-year mega project went live in August 2022, bringing 269,000 miles of distribution lines under a singular system to manage outage restoration, advanced applications (Distribution Automation (DA) and Volt/Var Optimization (VVO) – Ohio operating companies only) and more. To our knowledge, this project comprising a single ADMS across multiple service territories is the most significant ADMS adoption by a large utility corporation in terms of cost, schedule, and functionality.

Ted Allan, Director, ADMS/GIS Project, FirstEnergy, said, "Simply put, we needed our system to let us easily see and predict how power is moving on an increasingly complicated and layered grid, while also ensuring everyone across service territories are operating from the same place in terms of process, software, and shared purpose."

The forerunner for the new system deployed by FirstEnergy was the original ADMS developed in 2007 by Oracle. The architecture of ADMS has the capability to expand to handle additional demands, from the proliferation of a wide variety of DERs — such as rooftop solar, EVs, and battery storage — to changing weather patterns with extreme weather events. These platforms aid in automated outage response and help optimize performance of utility distribution grids utilizing a common model and operator user interface.

Conclusion

Oracle's new ADMS enhancements are a game-changer for utilities navigating the complexities of modern power grids. By providing enhanced DER management, improved grid event management, advanced SCADA capabilities, real-time data and predictive modeling, streamlined work practices, and heightened situational awareness, Oracle is empowering utilities to meet the growing demands of their stakeholders. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, these enhancements will be crucial in ensuring grid reliability and resiliency for years to come.