Microgrids and Power Management

Maintain grid stability while offering flexibility that reduces operating expenses and meets ever-changing system demands. The SEL powerMAX Power Management and Control System is an all-inclusive ecosystem of SEL hardware and software working to stabilize, automate, and simplify the operation of any power system. SEL ES provides expertise for designing microgrid control systems (MCSs) and power management solutions that meet all your system needs.Microgrids enhance energy reliability, resilience, and sustainability. They operate with the grid or islanded, integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) for local power generation, energy storage, grid independence, and cost savings. SEL engineers apply the SEL powerMAX control logic to your microgrid to create a system that seamlessly meets your control, protection, and monitoring requirements.For industrial power management applications, SEL powerMAX control logic maximizes uptime for critical loads and optimizes generation source usage to accommodate variable demand. Ongoing system awareness helps protect valuable fixed assets and increase safety for personnel.

We will happily schedule a time for you to talk with our experts about how we can meet your needs.

Our Services

An SEL powerMAX MCS provides a reliable, resilient, and secure solution for maintaining uninterrupted energy delivery. powerMAX MCSs serve utilities, municipalities, college campuses, and facilities such as hospitals, data centers, and research labs—anywhere that constant delivery of electricity is critical even when grid availability is interrupted.SEL MCSs maintain stability by providing deterministic control that operates at subcycle speeds to preserve load and generation balance while seamlessly islanding and recoupling with the grid.Our power system engineers streamline the integration of DERs into your system by selecting and prioritizing the most efficient mix of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources to support local demand. SEL also works closely with microgrid owners and integrators to design, engineer, and implement the optimal microgrid control solution for your operational requirements.Learn more about microgrid control systems

Work with SEL ES to deploy a powerMAX power management and control solution that protects and stabilizes your industrial system.powerMAX is a scalable, integrated system composed of relay and control hardware, software, and logic processing, all designed by our expert power engineers. powerMAX solutions seamlessly integrate with our motor protection and management systems to protect your entire facility, from bulk power systems to end devices.Other powerMAX industrial benefits include:

Reducing the risk of widespread blackouts and keeping your critical processes running with advanced high-speed protection and control technology.
Achieving total system awareness with time-synchronized condition-monitoring systems that track equipment status, electrical metering, cyber attacks, network traffic, and more.
Improving human safety and reducing equipment damage with adaptive protection, advanced protection systems, and arc-flash mitigation.

Learn more about industrial power management

SEL powerMAX systems for utilities provide the foundation for a remedial action scheme (RAS) to integrate large geographic regions of interconnected generation sources, transmission lines, and loads.Every powerMAX RAS is as unique as the utility grid it protects.SEL creates power system models and conducts system studies to understand the present state of your system and find the best possible way to achieve your desired outcome. We can also integrate a powerMAX RAS with your existing relays, meters, and communications systems to reduce overall project costs.Key applications for a powerMAX RAS include:

Integration of large renewable sources, such as wind power stations and photovoltaic arrays, with transmission systems.
Wide-area systems communications and operations at relay speeds.
Synchrophasor monitoring and control.
Fast decoupling solutions.
Distributed computing and communications for smart transmission grid management.

Learn more about remedial action schemes

Wide-area monitoring, protection, and control (WAMPAC) systems allow operators to achieve comprehensive situational awareness over large geographical areas. WAMPAC systems provide visualization, analysis, notification, and archiving of time-series data, including synchrophasor data, relay event reports, point-on-wave data, and GIS geospatial data. WAMPAC informs or triggers coordinated responses to correct system issues and maintain grid reliability.WAMPAC and powerMAX complement each other in a modern power system by combining real-time, time-synchronized data collection with high-speed automated control. powerMAX receives data from WAMPAC components and responds to preconfigured events to ensure protection and control. WAMPAC continues to monitor the system to ensure grid stability and safety.SEL ES makes sure your powerMAX system is operating and optimized. We also train your operators and explain in depth the technology and capabilities of your new or upgraded powerMAX solution and how it works with your WAMPAC system.

Introducing DERs—including renewables and inverter-based resources—into power systems helps utilities achieve operational goals but can also introduce challenges with dependability and grid stability. SEL solutions enhance reliability and provide comprehensive power management and control while supporting sustainability goals. Our solutions integrate DERs seamlessly with the grid at the point of common coupling.

Wind

SEL products and solutions can protect Type I, II, III, and IV wind turbines and collectors. Our solutions also provide secure communications, accurate fault indication, and protection and control of capacitors for reactive power support.

Solar

An SEL solar solution helps you meet the highest standards for reliability and security while also reducing the lifetime cost of ownership. Our devices locate and resolve feeder cable faults and implement communications-based power factor control or curtailment requests.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Capture and store energy from your DERs using a BESS. The stored energy is available for later use by SEL dispatch algorithms to provide grid stability and reliability. SEL devices protect and control the BESS to ensure safety and efficiency of the system by using continuous, real-time monitoring.

SEL ES delivers solutions to both support the new nuclear generation facilities and extend the life of the existing global nuclear fleet. We will help you ensure that your nuclear modernization projects achieve your operational objectives.For existing nuclear plants, SEL ES designs comprehensive protection and control solutions that increase equipment and personnel protection. Our services help you address aging and obsolete components as part of a plant life extension and performance improvement strategy.For new nuclear projects, including small modular and advanced reactors, SEL ES designs state-of-the-art protection and control systems for optimal operation of plant electrical power systems. We also design solutions to efficiently and safely interconnect with the grid and other generation sources, as well as to implement sophisticated metering and load management systems for the administration of Power Purchase Agreements.

SEL solutions protect, control, and synchronize mission-critical functions for steam and thermal power generation. Our devices protect individual generators or entire generation units, including step-up transformers.Our hardware and software solutions complement cogeneration plant operations by providing protection for gas and steam turbines. SEL ES integrates solutions with your plant control systems to maintain stability and ensure interdependencies are respected for steam or combined heat and power systems.

SEL powerMAX systems apply seamlessly to mobile microgrids. These systems provide reliable power for applications that are in remote destinations or that require mobility and rapid deployment, such as oil drilling and mining, disaster relief efforts, or a military forward operating base (FOB).Key benefits of using SEL powerMAX mobile microgrid control systems include:

Interoperability with military and commercial off-the-shelf generators.
Plug-and-play configuration requiring no specialized training.
Seamless diesel, photovoltaic, and battery integration.
Remote monitoring and visualization.
Generator health condition monitoring.

For military applications, benefits include:

No single point of failure, which ensures FOB power grid resiliency.
Compliance with MIL-STD-TMS (Department of Defense Tactical Microgrid Standard).
Interoperability with Advanced Medium Mobile Power Sources (AMMPS).
Conversion kits for Tactical Quiet Gensets (TQGs).
Parallel generation capabilities and adaptive power management to reduce the risk of power outages after the destruction of a generator, cable, or load.
Secure embedded and allowlisted equipment.

Learn more about mobile microgrids

SEL Solutions in Action

Project Highlight

SEL powerMAX Microgrid Control System Ensures Reliable Power for Community Fire Station During Storm SeasonLearn more

Georgian State Electrosystem

Innovation, Persistence, and a New BeginningLearn more

Montclair State University

Microgrid Solution Plays Big on CampusLearn more

Project Highlight

Mine Ensures System Stability With Power Management SolutionLearn more

Our Approach

Define System Requirements

A front-end engineering design study establishes and defines technical requirements, applicable standards, and project guidelines. We draw on our field-proven success with microgrid projects and decades of experience as a trusted power management solution provider to develop a plan that prevents unexpected changes, reduces risk, and ensures efficient execution of the project.

Evaluate System Performance

We use our expertise in system modeling and studies to perform detailed simulations, which help power system managers and microgrid owners make key decisions about the project. These studies and simulations assist with planning a new power management system, evaluating and improving an existing system, or investigating a specific system vulnerability.

Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS)

SEL performs hardware-in-the-loop testing by placing the SEL hardware that will run your MCS through an intense battery of tests. We use our RTDS lab to verify the entire system performs as expected. This also helps us commission your power management system quickly and smoothly.

Comprehensive training is part of the implementation process for any powerMAX system. We provide a complete set of materials and documentation along with onsite personnel training and advanced engineering training for ongoing system and configuration management. In addition, you have access to no-cost product support for the life of your SEL solution. We also offer optional life cycle support for the powerMAX. Our experts will partner with you to ensure the continued health of your power management system and:

Implement safeguards against potential blackouts.
Carry out proactive inspections.
Deliver post-event analysis and reports.
Offer system upgrade recommendations.
Provide additional services.

All of our products are designed, tested, and manufactured in SEL-owned and -operated facilities in the United States.The SEL ES team follows rigorous engineering procedures for design, development, testing, and commissioning of electric power systems. We continually identify, monitor, and improve best practices to ensure your satisfaction.We practice secure supply chain management, including verified chains of custody, responsible sourcing, and keeping quantities of critical parts in reserve. Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001 requirements.

SEL ES approaches all projects with an unwavering commitment to safety.Employees working in the field receive comprehensive safety training that includes real-world scenario exercises, hands-on performance, and thorough review from qualified individuals.We also integrate human performance improvement tools into our everyday work practices and have a comprehensive event reporting and investigation process to bolster safety procedures and promote awareness among employees.Learn more about safety and procedures.

Our Support

When you choose SEL, you get more than products and services—you get a partnership. Our customer support teams are experts in power system products and applications, and they’re available for the entire life of your SEL solution.SEL ES project engineers are ready to assist you in various project stages, from planning through final commissioning of the system. Afterward, ES teams around the globe will assist with any ongoing needs, and you have access to no-cost product support from highly skilled SEL application engineers.More about SEL quality and support

Every device we manufacture comes with free lifetime technical support. SEL application engineers are stationed around the world and are ready to provide support and expertise for virtually all power system applications. No matter how often you need to call or how long your SEL products have been in service, our customer service and technical support professionals are ready to help.

Security Bulletins and Updates

We notify product owners of updates and security patches for the full life of the product. We distribute software and firmware updates directly to our customers via a secure file transfer. The authenticity and integrity of the updates are verifiable through digital signatures and cryptographic hashes.More about security notifications

SEL provides complete cybersecurity support for every solution, system, and product we create.

Cybersecurity Bulletins and Updates

We thoroughly review and test the code in our products, which gives us greater control over their quality, security, and functionality. Customers are notified of updates and security patches for the full life of every SEL product.

Cybersecurity Services and Support

From system assessment and baselining to cyber-defense solution development and ongoing system management, our full suite of security services can help strengthen your defenses and streamline the demands of maintenance and compliance.Cyber services support contracts include incident response, audits, system hardening, patch and update management, and more.

SEL meets your workforce training and continuing-education needs through seminars, conference and tradeshow presentations, and SEL University courses.SEL University courses and many of our seminars provide Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for maintaining Professional Engineering licenses. Courses and seminars can be delivered in various formats, including self-paced online learning, virtual classrooms, live and recorded webinars, and in person.We can also work with you to develop training that is customized to the specific needs of your workforce.Training and Education offeringsSEL University CoursesConferences and TradeshowsSeminars and Webinars