Exelon-led projects honored for innovation in Electric Power Research Institute’s 2020 Technology Transfer Awards
Three different projects, led by Exelon Generation employees and joined by teammates from BGE, ComEd, PECO, Pepco, and PHI, were awarded Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) 2020 Technology Transfer Awards last week for clean energy innovations.
Honors were doled out for work within unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), distributed energy resources (DER), and distribution system mobile equipment. The UAS work focused on the installation of avian line markers, or diverters, using drones. These efforts — pursued by Exelon, BGE, ComEd, PECO, and Pepco — resulted in no further birds striking transmission lines at a test site. The results were so good they plan to expand efforts to other locations.
Regarding DER, teams from BGE, ComEd, PECO, and PHI worked to navigate related criteria and create a technical interconnection requirement for Exelon utilities. The result is helping customers more easily install solar or other distributed resources. Lastly, though, BGE, ComEd, PECO, and PHI also joined to create safe grounding practices for mobile equipment, using industry best practices to protect utility employees and the public from accidental contact with transmission lines.
“More than 50 Exelon employees collaborated across three teams to win these prestigious awards,” Joe Svachula, vice-president, strategy for Exelon Utilities and an EPRI Sector Council representative, said. “The hard work, commitment, and leadership demonstrated by these award winners will make electricity more reliable, efficient, affordable, safe, and environmentally responsible for our customers and communities.”
The EPRI Technology Transfer Awards are annual affairs, showcasing collaborative research within the electricity sector. Specifically, it spotlights those who have taken EPRI research and used it to bring significant results to customers. EPRI noted that the winners from the Exelon-led groups showed the exceptional application of research and technology in solving problems of size and significance, championing technology within and across the industry, driving progress, and providing meaningful benefits to their stakeholders and society.
