Co-chaired by Black & Veatch and Hydro Ottawa Limited, the alliance is a collaborative forum for energy utilities to tackle the industry’s pressing challenges
As utilities across North America work toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future, they are met with challenges in aging infrastructure, rapid supply and demand shift, and complex technology transformations. To address these challenges, industry leaders have formed the Total Grid Orchestration (TGO) Alliance.
Founding members of the TGO Alliance include Black & Veatch, CPS Energy, Essex Power, Hydro Ottawa Limited, Landis+Gyr, Public Service of New Mexico, PUC Services Inc., Rappahannock, Uplight and Think Labs. The alliance is open to utilities and technology companies that share the TGO Alliance vision of orchestrating the grid to deliver the energy transition.
The alliance has been established as a collaborative forum to develop an industrywide framework for grid orchestration across planning, engineering and operation. The TGO Alliance will work on new approaches to systemwide coordination, situational awareness and risk management across the entire grid, enabling alignment and integration between near-term operational decisions and long-term planning.
“TGO is a timely effort to bridge traditional boundaries of generation, transmission and distribution in the power sector to ensure we reduce system inefficiencies as we work to support and deliver the energy transition,” said Guillaume Paradis, chief operating officer of Hydro Ottawa Limited and co-chair of the TGO Alliance. “Although market mechanisms will be important to support and respond to the broad growth in energy demand, we must also ensure energy decision making is done in consideration of all potential value-creating options and avoid optimizing at the local level and delivering sub-optimal results for customers.”
“Our goal in forming this alliance with power utilities and technology solution providers is to optimize the electric grid to deliver better outcomes through a balanced and scalable approach,” said Joe Zhou, vice president and senior managing director for Black & Veatch, and co-chair of the TGO Alliance. “This alliance has been formed to optimize grid lifecycle management and bridge the gap between planning and operations to support the energy transition and ensure a reliable and sustainable grid. By joining forces with utilities across the U.S. and Canada, each member has a sounding board for the challenges they face, along with a space to share knowledge and move the industry forward.”
The TGO Alliance strives to inform and improve integrated planning and operational capabilities across generation, transmission, distribution and behind-the-meter assets to maximize distributed and variable energy supply and demand optimization.
“Electrification is driving demand on the grid, and smart products can be part of the solution, but today’s energy ecosystem limits the fully optimized participation of behind-the-meter assets,” said Jennifer Kent, vice president of research, Parks Associates. “This new initiative is much needed in the marketplace to help define and incorporate new standards, and solutions across the industry to enable the required orchestration.”
Editor’s Notes:
For utilities and other companies interested in learning more about the TGO Alliance, visit TGOAlliance.org, or reach out to TGO Alliance Manager, Kayleigh HasBrouck, at HasBrouckK@bv.com.
About the Total Grid Orchestration Alliance
The Total Grid Orchestration (TGO) Alliance is a collaborative effort to drive the transition to a sustainable and resilient energy future. Members of the TGO Alliance include utilities and technology companies that share the vision of orchestrating the grid to deliver the energy transition. The alliance aims to optimize the electric grid through system-wide coordination, situational awareness and risk management across the entire grid. By bridging traditional boundaries of generation, transmission and distribution in the power sector, the TGO Alliance seeks to reduce system inefficiencies and deliver better outcomes for customers. The TGO Alliance is committed to supporting the energy transition and ensuring a reliable and sustainable grid for communities and businesses around the world. To learn more, visit TGOAlliance.org.
Media Contact Information:
Black & Veatch: BRUCE ERIC ANDERSON | +1952-896-0835 | Media@bv.com
Hydro Ottawa Limited: Media Line: Tel: 613-738-5499, ext. 2345 Email: mediarelations@hydroottawa.com
Member Quotes:
Essex Power
“We must align with the pace of the energy transition – it is here and fueled by the customers we serve. Local hydro utilities are ready and waiting to meet the changing nature of this energy landscape. We have the plan, and it is the time to enable us to actively contribute to a sustainable and economically prosperous future for all” - John Avdoulos, President and CEO
Landis+Gyr
"Flexible grid orchestration is crucial to overcoming the challenges facing the grid and will enable the clean energy transition. Landis+Gyr is proud to be a founding member of the Total Grid Orchestration (TGO) alliance and invite others to join us in creating a greener future.” - Amith Kota, Chief Technology Officer
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
“Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) is joining the Total Grid Orchestration Alliance to proactively address both current and future challenges in managing the electric grid. As the grid experiences increased volatility in supply and demand, coupled with growing electricity rate pressures, REC recognizes the importance of optimizing energy resources to ensure reliable, resilient, and affordable services. By collaborating with other leading utilities and technology partners within the TGO Alliance, REC aims to bridge the traditional boundaries of generation, transmission and distribution, thereby reducing system inefficiencies and supporting the energy transition. This partnership will allow REC to leverage collective knowledge and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of its member-owners while contributing to a more sustainable energy future.” - Peter Muhoro, Chief Strategy, Technology, and Innovation Officer
Uplight
"As adoption of distributed energy resources continues to accelerate and demand response and virtual power plant programs gain traction, the industry needs to evolve its approach to grid orchestration. Uplight is excited to collaborate with utility and technology leaders to bridge the gap between planning and operations as we build toward the decentralized, decarbonized grid of the future." - Laura Tajima, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships
