In an effort to provide a controlled environment for unbiased assessments of new technologies, EPRI PEAC, a division of the Electric Power Research Institute, recently opened the doors of its new Power Quality and Distributed Resources Test Center in Knoxville, Tenn. Dedication of the center was held on June 17 in conjunction with the dedication of two nearby energy technology facilities at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The design of the new facility with facilitate the testing of complete distributed generation, energy storage, and end-use systems, according to an EPRI press release.
“The evolution of a deregulated energy market has brought a surge of interest in distributed resources for use in power generation, energy storage, and power quality applications,” says Hank Courtright, vice president of EPRI. “Before these technologies enter into service, they must be evaluated for the utility industry and for the electricity consumers who will be using this equipment in their homes and businesses.”